The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a self-deportation campaign that offers illegal immigrants free flights back to their home countries along with a $2,600 exit bonus.
As part of the campaign, DHS used images of famous landmarks, including India’s Taj Mahal, as well as landmarks in Colombia and China, to promote the initiative. “Get a FREE flight home and a $2,600 exit bonus when you use CBP Home to self-deport,” DHS said in a post on X.
The initiative, called Project Homecoming, was launched last May after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump’s second term.
DHS advised migrants to use the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) application to begin the process, which will allow them to register their intention to voluntarily leave the country, submit their information and access information about travel assistance and financial incentives offered under the program.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 2.2 million illegal immigrants have participated in the program since it launched in January 2025.
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DHS noted that while traditional forced deportation costs around $18,245 per person, the new self-deportation option — with a $2,600 exit stipend through the CBP Home App — brings the cost down to just $5,100 per individual, saving U.S. taxpayers more than $13,000 per participant.
The program gives migrants the chance “to return home as ordinary travelers – without arrest, detention or restriction. It’s a safe, orderly alternative that provides help and flexibility, not fear, the website says.
Using the CBP Home app, according to DHS, “allows illegal aliens to plan their return, including the ability to leave early—allowing illegal aliens to pack up work, school, and personal affairs and organize their return in an orderly and lawful manner.”
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When the program began last May, DHS initially offered a $1,000 exit bonus. That amount was temporarily raised to $3,000 during the December holidays for illegal immigrants who decided to leave before the new year. In January of this year, the exit bonus was set at a permanent rate of $2,600.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is poised for new leadership, which presents a chance to either reset Trump’s immigration policy or step up his signature promise of the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, according to the AP.
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The White House policy director recently urged party lawmakers at a Trump Florida golf club retreat to prioritize immigration enforcement aimed at criminals — a departure from the broad mass deportation agenda pushed during the campaign. House Speaker Mike Johnson described the aggressive operations as causing a “hiccup” for the party and said he was now seeking a “course correction”.
Despite signs of a strategic middle ground, Trump’s mass deportation efforts appear to be accelerating, with billions of dollars allocated to hire more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, build large detention facilities and meet the administration’s goal of detaining and removing about 1 million immigrants from the US this year.
(With input from agencies)
