President Trump signed an executive order Friday authorizing government-funded flights and financial incentives to illegal migrants willing to self-deport.
The program, dubbed “Project Homecoming,” tasks government agencies with facilitating travel for migrants without travel documents, providing flights “at no cost to illegal aliens,” offering concierge service at airports to assist with travel bookings and granting illegal migrants an “exit bonus” to leave the US.
“We are making it as easy as possible for illegal aliens to leave America,” Trump said in a video posted on Truth Social.
“Any illegal alien can simply show up at an airport and receive a free flight out of our country.”
The president noted that through the Department of Homeland Security’s new CBP Home app “illegals can book a free flight to any foreign country.
“As long as it’s not here, you can go anywhere you want,” he declared.
The “exit bonus,” which DHS indicated earlier this week would be in the amount of $1,000-per-migrant, “will save American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars,” according to the president.
“Eventually, when the illegals are gone, it will save us trillions of dollars,” Trump continued, warning that illegal migrants choosing to remain in the country will face “severe consequences,” including stiff fines, jail time and “sudden deportation in a place and manner solely of our discretion.
“We want you out of America,” the president declared, before claiming, “If you’re really good, we’re going to try and help you get back in.”
Trump’s order directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to launch a nationwide communications campaign to inform illegal migrants of the Project Homecoming program and of the consequences of remaining.
The president also called for the “deputizing” of state and local law enforcement officers, former federal officers, officers and personnel within other federal agencies as part of an “intensive campaign” to deport illegal migrants who refuse to self-deport.
The effort, described by the White House as a “full-scale, aggressive deportation surge,” will commence within the next 60 days.
In 2023 alone, the fiscal burden of illegal migrants was estimated to have cost taxpayers more than $150 billion, according to the White House.
“By incentivizing voluntary departure, Project Homecoming aims to reduce these costs and restore resources for American citizens,” the White House said in a statement.
