Trump administration says will pay immigrants in US illegally $1,000 to 'self-deport'

The Donald Trump-led administration has announced that it will pay one thousand dollars to illegal immigrants to go back to their home country voluntarily, the Associated Press reported on Monday. The administration is going to pay illegal migrants to $1,000 each to 'self-deport' from the US, and the Department of Homeland Security said it will save taxpayers up to $1 million per family.

The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that it's also paying for travel assistance and that people who use their CBP Home app to tell the government they plan to return home will be "deprioritised" for detention and removal by immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement a centrepiece of his campaign. But that is a costly, resource-intensive endeavour.

"The Republican administration is urging Congress to approve a significant boost in resources while also strongly encouraging undocumented immigrants to leave the country voluntarily.


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How can immigrants avoid arrest?

According to New York Post, immigrants can avoid arrest by federal immigration agents if they choose to use the Trump administration’s CBP Home app. The DHS will pay for commercial flights out of the US, and then send cash once they confirm they’ve left.

Despite shelling out the cash, DHS projects that taxpayers will save 70% over the cost of rounding up and deporting each illegal migrant. It costs taxpayers an average of $17,121 for the feds to arrest, detain and deport a single illegal immigrant, according to DHS.

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Stephen Miller, President Trump’s top policy and homeland security adviser, said on X Monday that the “savings are as much as $1 million per illegal alien family given the long-term costs of free welfare and public support.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that “self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way” for illegal immigrants to avoid arrest by ICE. “Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport,” said Noem.

(With inputs from AP)