In a major shift in US immigration enforcement strategy, the Trump administration announced on May 5, a new initiative offering illegal migrants a $1,000 stipend and free commercial airfare if they voluntarily leave the country. The program, rolled out by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is being positioned as a cost-saving, humane alternative to traditional deportation methods, while also reinforcing President Donald Trump’s hardline stance on illegal immigration.

Under the new policy, eligible individuals can signal their intention to self-deport through the CBP Home app, a digital platform previously used for border enforcement notifications. Migrants who opt into the program will be deprioritized for arrest and detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and upon completing their voluntary departure, will receive the financial incentive.

President Trump unveiled the details during a White House event on May 5, characterizing the initiative as a pragmatic solution for both migrants and taxpayers. “We’re going to work with them so that maybe someday, with a little work, they can come back in – if they’re good people, if they’re the kind of people that we want in our country, industrious people that love our country,” Trump stated. However, he issued a stern warning: those who refuse to leave voluntarily will face deportation and will be permanently barred........

© Blitz