The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new holiday-season incentive aimed at encouraging undocumented migrants in the United States to voluntarily return to their home countries.
Under the initiative, migrants who register to self-deport through the CBP Home mobile application by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend along with a government-funded flight home. DHS said participants will also be eligible for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties related to overstaying or failing to depart the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the incentive, which triples previous financial assistance, is part of a broader effort to reduce the number of undocumented migrants in the US.
“Since January 2025, 1.9 million undocumented migrants have voluntarily self-deported, and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program,” Noem said in a statement, urging eligible individuals to take advantage of the offer before it expires at year’s end.
DHS described the CBP Home app as a streamlined process that allows users to submit personal information while the department arranges and covers travel costs. Officials warned that migrants who do not opt for voluntary departure could face arrest, forced removal and long-term bans on re-entering the United States.
The announcement comes as US immigration enforcement remains a central political issue, with authorities emphasizing voluntary departure programs as a cost-effective alternative to detention and deportation.
-Al Arabiya