The Trump administration has started paying illegal migrants to $1,000 each to “self-deport” from the US, and the Department of Homeland Security said it will save taxpayers up to $1 million per family.
Immigrants can avoid arrest by federal immigration agents if they choose to use the Trump administration’s CBP Home app. The DHS will pay for commercial flights out of the US, and then send cash once they confirm they’ve left.
Despite shelling out the cash, DHS projects that taxpayers will save 70% over the cost of rounding up and deporting each illegal migrant.
It costs taxpayers an average of $17,121 for the feds to arrest, detain and deport a single illegal immigrant, according to DHS.
Stephen Miller, President Trump’s top policy and homeland security adviser, said on X Monday that the “savings are as much as $1 million per illegal alien family given the long-term costs of free welfare and public support.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that “self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way” for illegal immigrants to avoid arrest by ICE.
“Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport,” said Noem.
The first illegal immigrant who cashed in through the program was “allowed” into the US by the Biden administration before choosing to return to Honduras from Chicago, according to DHS.
In Trump’s first 100 days back in the White House, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers already deported nearly 66,000 illegal immigrants, the agency said last week.
“We’re just 100 days into this administration and thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is using every tool at its disposal to enforce our country’s immigration laws and protect our communities,” acting ICE director Todd Lyons said.
