In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a substantial increase in its financial grant for undocumented immigrants willing to leave the country voluntarily. The incentive has been raised from $1,000 to $3,000, coupled with a free airline ticket to their home country, as part of a renewed push to encourage voluntary departures before the end of 2025.
According to a report by CBS News, citing sources within the DHS, the program also includes waivers for certain fines and penalties associated with unlawful presence. To qualify, individuals must declare their intent to leave through the official CBP One app, a dedicated platform for this process.
The procedure requires migrants to register their departure plans via the app. The $3,000 grant will be disbursed only after authorities verify that the individual has left U.S. territory. This "cash on exit" model aims to ensure compliance and finalize the process.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas underscored the choice facing migrants. Those who do not take advantage of this voluntary departure option and are later apprehended could face arrest and a potential permanent ban from re-entering the United States.
This enhanced incentive comes against a backdrop of stringent enforcement. CBS News, citing previously released government data, reported that U.S. authorities carried out nearly 150,000 deportations in the first six months of the second term of President Joe Biden. In stark contrast, only about 13,000 voluntary departures were recorded during the same period, highlighting the government's desire to shift the balance.
The move has sparked immediate debate. Proponents argue it is a humane and cost-effective alternative to detention and forced removal, reducing trauma for families and saving government resources. Critics, however, view it as a monetary coercion tactic that pressures vulnerable individuals and fails to address the root causes of migration.
For eligible migrants, the offer presents a complex calculation: accept a guaranteed financial assist for a fresh start abroad or remain in the shadows facing increasingly aggressive enforcement and the risk of permanent exile.
As the 2025 deadline approaches, the success of this voluntary departure program will be measured not just in numbers, but in the lives and futures it alters. The U.S. government is making its offer clear: a funded, formal exit now, or the stark consequences of a forced removal later.