DHS Offers $1,000 Stipend for Illegal Immigrants to Self-Deport

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ramping up efforts to encourage unauthorized immigrants to voluntarily leave the United States by offering a $1,000 stipend along with travel assistance. This initiative aims to reduce costs associated with mass deportations.

Under the new policy, individuals who utilize the CBP Home app to declare their intent to self-deport will be provided assistance and will be “deprioritized” from detention and removal proceedings. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described this option as the best, safest, and most cost-effective way for undocumented immigrants to exit the country to avoid arrest.

The announcement aligns with the administration’s promise to streamline immigration enforcement while managing expenses. According to DHS, the average cost to arrest, detain, and deport an individual is approximately $17,121. By encouraging self-deportation, the department anticipates a reduction in costs by about 70%.

Individuals wishing to self-deport must confirm their departure through the CBP Home app, employing biographical data and geo-location to substantiate their exit. “The alien must be at least three miles outside of the United States to successfully utilize this feature,” McLaughlin noted.

Although DHS did not disclose the number of immigrants who have used the CBP Home app to self-deport, Appfigures reported about 1,500 daily downloads of the application, which supports self-deportation and has been downloaded around 300,000 times since the start of 2025.

Secretary Noem highlighted that the program could potentially allow individuals who self-deport to retain options for legal re-entry into the United States. However, immigration experts have expressed skepticism regarding this claim, indicating that for many, legal avenues for return may not be available for years.

A recent report from the DHS indicated that voluntary departures will also result in the individuals being spared from immediate detention if they demonstrate that they are taking significant steps toward leaving the country.

Critics of the program argue that it could be viewed as rewarding undocumented immigrants with taxpayer funds for their illegal status. Despite the criticism, the administration maintains that this approach would cut costs significantly while addressing immigration issues more effectively.

The initiative reflects the administration’s ongoing efforts to shift strategies in dealing with unauthorized immigration amid fluctuating border crossings and deportation rates.