Trump's government offers money to undocumented minors to leave the U.S.: Here's what we know

The government of Donald Trump has launched a new immigration policy that has raised alarms among human rights advocates and experts in child immigration: offering $2,500 to unaccompanied migrant minors to voluntarily leave the United States.

The measure, deemed unprecedented for its approach towards vulnerable children and adolescents, was communicated through an official memorandum from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which was accessed by media outlets such as NBC News and CNN.

The proposal, which supposedly began circulating as a rumor on social media, was later confirmed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has defined it as a “strictly voluntary option to return home to their families.”

However, organizations supporting children and immigration have reported that, beyond the official language, the initiative could represent a form of veiled coercion towards children who are in a state of extreme vulnerability.

What does the plan consist of?

According to the memorandum, the policy is aimed at unaccompanied migrant children over the age of 14 who are in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which is part of HHS.

The economic incentive of $2,500 would be provided only after an immigration judge approves the voluntary departure and the minor effectively arrives in their country of origin.

The notice was sent to lawyers and legal service providers across the country, and it states that the benefit aims to "support reintegration efforts following departures."

A spokesperson for ICE confirmed to CNN that this is a measure aimed at “providing unaccompanied minors the opportunity to choose and make an informed decision about their future.”

The agency also denied that the name "Freaky Friday Operation" is being used, as reported by activists and lawyers.

However, according to Univisión, to access the incentive, minors must sign the I-210 form, which implies waiving their right to removal hearings and to request protection under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).

This law provides special protections for unaccompanied migrant children, such as the right to be assessed for potential situations of trafficking or violence.

Accusations of pressure and manipulation

The strategy has been interpreted by many as a way to pressure minors into renouncing their rights without a complete legal process.

"There is no legitimate reason for the government to positively provide this option to children and to incentivize it with a financial reward," denounced Neha Desai, director of the National Center for Juvenile Law.

Charles Kuck, immigration attorney, revealed that ICE has been sending letters to minors warning that they could be detained indefinitely upon turning 18 if they do not accept the offer.

In addition, Bilal Askaryar from the Acacia Center for Justice reported that ICE agents have visited shelters where minors reside to make them the proposal, in some cases without the presence of lawyers or legal representatives, which could create situations of emotional coercion or intimidation.

“Unaccompanied minors should never be expelled from the United States without a complete and fair process to determine their eligibility for U.S. protection,” warned Wendy Young, director of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).

He added that this policy “undermines the laws that guarantee this process and contradicts our nation's historical commitment to protecting the most vulnerable.”

The context: Child migration under pressure

During the Trump administration, the focus on unaccompanied migrant minors has intensified.

At the beginning of this year, according to reports from CNN, there was an attempt to rapidly deport dozens of Guatemalan children without prior notification to their parents.

Some parents from Guatemala stated that they were unaware of the deportation of their children and expressed fear for their safety if they returned.

ICE has argued that these measures represent a more cost-effective alternative to the high costs of traditional detention and deportation.

Previously, $1,000 were offered to undocumented adults to leave the country. The initiative aimed at minors would extend this logic of state savings, now applied to children.

However, experts have warned that the proposal poses much deeper ethical and legal risks when it comes to minors.

Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, from the American Immigration Lawyers Association, stated: "It is already serious enough to use these tactics with adults to encourage them to self-deport, but attempting to use them with children is an even greater concern."

The proposal has also raised concerns among migrant communities in the United States. Roxana Cortés-Mills, director of the Center for the Advancement of Immigrants and Refugees in Nebraska, reported that she received calls from rural schools asking whether they should warn parents about potential detentions. “This is the first time in my nine years of working with unaccompanied children that I hear this kind of offer,” she stated.

In Houston, Dalia Castillo-Granados, director of the Academy of Children's Immigration Law, emphasized that offering money to minors in vulnerable situations "raises a lot of concerns."

According to data from the HHS, in August there were 2,011 minors in federal custody, although during the Biden administration record numbers were reported: more than 300,000 children entered the country alone before being handed over to family members or sponsors.

Advocates for migrant rights point out that this type of policy could seriously undermine the protections established by the TVPRA, especially for minors coming from countries like Honduras, El Salvador, or Guatemala, where violence, forced recruitment, and human trafficking are constant threats.

Generally, unaccompanied minors are transferred to the custody of HHS, where they wait to be placed with a sponsor. Only in exceptional cases are they offered the option of voluntary departure, and always under strict judicial supervision.

The new initiative turns that protocol on its head by proactively offering voluntary departure as a “quick solution” accompanied by a financial incentive, which many experts believe opens the door to abuses, manipulations, and hasty resignations of legal protections.

Frequently Asked Questions about Trump's Immigration Policy and Economic Incentives for Undocumented Minors