The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has signed a new executive order aimed at irregular migrants in the country, amid his campaign to strengthen policies in this regard and the enhancement of border security.
Trump announced this measure in April, although without providing specific details regarding its implementation. At that time, he reaffirmed that his plan would offer immigrants the option to leave voluntarily or face severe penalties.
According to a statement published on the White House website, the U.S. government argues that over the past four years, the country has faced a "large-scale invasion" of foreigners entering and staying illegally, which has resulted in an "ongoing wave of crime, vagrancy, violence, and death" in various communities.
The statement also notes that this situation has overloaded social services and has involved a significant cost for taxpayers, which in fiscal year 2023 surpassed 150 billion dollars.
Among the mentioned expenses are medical care, food stamps, public housing, emergency services, education and housing, as well as the costs associated with crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
The Homecoming Project
The executive order establishes the "Homecoming Project", an initiative that offers undocumented immigrants the option to leave the United States voluntarily, receiving support and financial assistance from the federal government, or face legal consequences if they choose to stay.
The deportation flights will be funded by the federal government, and will be implemented through the "CBP Home" application, which will allow migrants to leave the country quickly and without complications.
Additionally, a "departure bonus" will be offered as a financial incentive for those who choose to leave the country voluntarily and permanently.
The document adds that for those who do not choose to leave the country, the executive order outlines severe penalties, including expulsion, prosecution, imprisonment, fines, wage garnishment, and confiscation of personal property.
These measures will be reinforced with an expansion of the enforcement and deportation force of the Department of Homeland Security, which will increase by at least 20,000 agents.
The new decision by the U.S. president is part of the immigration policies endorsed by his administration, which recently claimed to have deported over 65,000 undocumented immigrants in the first 100 days of his administration.
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