The Trump administration’s self-deportation program, launched under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has emerged as a cornerstone in the United States’ immigration enforcement strategy.
Officially named ‘Project Homecoming,’ the initiative offers undocumented immigrants a $1,000 stipend and free travel assistance to voluntarily leave the United States via the repurposed CBP Home app. The program aims to reduce the financial burden of forced deportations on taxpayers while encouraging compliance with immigration laws. However, its benefits and implications for both the government and undocumented immigrants remain a subject of debate.
The Self-Deportation Program
The self-deportation program repurposed the Biden-era CBP One app, originally used to process asylum claims, into the CBP Home app, which now facilitates voluntary departures.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has promoted the initiative through a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, emphasizing self-deportation as a ‘dignified’ and ‘cost-effective’ alternative to forced removal. Immigrants who register their intent to leave through the app are deprioritized for detention and removal, and upon verification of their departure, they receive the $1,000 stipend. The program also hints at a potential opportunity for legal re-entry, though no concrete pathway has been outlined.
As of May 5, 2025, DHS reported that over 7,000 immigrants have used the app to self-deport, with notable cases including a Honduran migrant who flew from Chicago to Honduras. The administration has spent approximately $200 million on app development and advertising, including English and Spanish ads across US and Mexican media markets.
Benefits for the Government
The primary benefit for the US government is cost reduction.
DHS estimates that forcibly deporting an individual costs taxpayers $17,121 on average, covering arrest, detention, and removal expenses. In contrast, the self-deportation program, including the $1,000 stipend and travel assistance, reduces this cost by approximately 70%, saving an estimated $12,000 per person. With 7,000 participants so far, the program has potentially saved over $84 million compared to traditional deportation methods.
The initiative also alleviates pressure on strained immigration enforcement resources. ICE detention facilities are reportedly at capacity, and the administration has struggled to meet its goal of deporting over 1 million people annually.
By encouraging voluntary departures, the program frees up resources to focus on high-priority targets, such as the 158,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants in 2025, including over 600 members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Additionally, the program aligns with the administration’s broader agenda of reducing public benefits for undocumented immigrants, as outlined in executive orders signed in February and April 2025, which aim to curb costs estimated at $182 billion annually by the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
Benefits and Risks for Undocumented Immigrants
For undocumented immigrants, the program offers a less coercive exit option compared to forced deportation, which can involve detention, fines, and permanent bans on re-entry. The $1,000 stipend provides financial support for resettlement, and the ability to leave ‘on their own terms’ allows immigrants to choose their destination and say goodbye to family and friends.
DHS has suggested that participation ‘may’ preserve future legal re-entry options, though immigration experts warn that federal law imposes 10-year re-entry bans for those who have been in the US illegally for over a year.
However, the program poses significant risks too.
Immigration lawyers, such as Hiroshi Motomura of UCLA, caution that some immigrants may unknowingly abandon legal pathways to stay, such as asylum claims or spousal petitions, due to lack of access to legal counsel. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has expressed concern that the administration’s messaging may mislead immigrants into leaving without understanding their rights. For instance, leaving while an immigration case is pending could result in an in-absentia removal order, further complicating future re-entry.
The program’s voluntary nature is also questioned, as it operates amid aggressive enforcement tactics, including deportations to El Salvador’s CECOT prison and threats of $998 daily fines for overstaying deportation orders.
Are Americans welcoming this program?
The self-deportation program has sparked polarized reactions.
Supporters, including White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, argue it’s a pragmatic solution to reduce the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US while minimizing confrontations with law enforcement.
Economically, the program’s long-term impact is uncertain. While it saves on deportation costs, mass deportations, including self-deportations, could shrink the labor market and tax base, with the American Immigration Council estimating that removing 13.3 million immigrants could cost the economy billions.
Socially, the policy affects mixed-status families, with reports of US-citizen children experiencing mental health challenges due to parental deportation fears.
Will the Self-Deportation program continue?
The Trump administration continues to promote Project Homecoming, with President Trump announcing on May 10, 2025, that it will be paired with stricter penalties for those who remain, including ‘sudden deportation’ at the government’s discretion.
ICE has emphasized targeting ‘violent criminal aliens’ but maintains that all undocumented immigrants are subject to enforcement. Meanwhile, legal challenges loom, with the ACLU and partners monitoring the program for potential violations of due process.