There has been an offer from President Donald Trump’s administration for illegal immigrants to receive a flight ticket and a $1,000 incentive to leave the United States voluntarily in a more dignified manner.
The Department of Homeland Security introduced a program described as a “significant opportunity” for those who are in the country unlawfully and are interested in returning to their home country using a special federal application.
Individuals who opt for self-deportation via the CBP Home App will be compensated with $1,000 to support them with financial and travel needs.
But the money will only be given after their return has been confirmed through the app.
In the DHS announcement, the agency said that self-deportation is a “dignified way to leave the U.S. and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”
The Trump administration said its new self-deportation incentive has “already proven successful.”
According to the DHS, an illegal immigrant used the travel assistance for a flight from Chicago to Honduras.
The agency said other illegal immigrants have booked flights for this week and next week.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement on Monday, “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest.”
While the $1,000 stipend will cost taxpayers, DHS expects the CBP Home app to decrease deportation costs by roughly 70 percent – even with the check.
The agency said that the average cost to arrest, detain and remove an illegal immigrant is currently over $17,000.
DHS told Fox News that paying for the stipend and commercial flights to have illegal immigrants self-deport is expected to cost just about $4,500 on average.
“This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers,” Noem said of the new initiative.
