Mass self-deportation is occurring across the United States as part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s two-track strategy combining aggressive illegal immigration enforcement with new financial incentives.
Immigration attorneys report unprecedented numbers of illegal immigrants have chosen to leave the country on their own rather than face costly deportation proceedings that could permanently ban them from returning to America.
“Leaving on their own, I’ve never seen that before. Not in these numbers, never in these numbers,” Los Angeles immigration attorney Rolando Vazquez told NewsNation. “Seldom would you see someone returning to their home country or another country on their own. But now it’s just happening in mass numbers.”
The Trump administration has rolled out executive orders related to illegal immigration at a pace nearly six times faster than during his first presidency. The Department of Homeland Security has set up a program to encourage voluntary self-deportation through the CBP Home app, which allows illegal immigrants to notify the government of their intent to leave.
Migrants who self-deport through the official program avoid “failure to depart fines” that can reach up to $1,000 per day. The government provides free flights, a $1,000 exit bonus, and the opportunity to return legally in the future. The policy addresses over 9,000 existing fines totaling nearly $3 billion that have already been issued.
DHS has recently simplified the CBP Home app to make the departure process easier. Last month, the department flew 64 volunteers from Houston to Honduras and Colombia as part of the voluntary departure program.
Up to a million illegal immigrants may have already accepted the offer.
The strategy is cost-effective compared to traditional deportation methods. While voluntary deportation costs the government $1,000 per illegal immigrant, physical deportation averages $17,100 per individual.
Based on government data, the Center for Immigration Studies estimates approximately 15.4 million illegal aliens currently reside in the United States, a 50 percent increase during the Biden administration’s four years.
Early indicators suggest the self-deportation program is has seen unexpected good results. A financial analyst cited by the Wall Street Journal calculated a decline in the immigrant population of 773,000 during Trump’s first four months in office, while The Washington Post reported that “a million foreign-born workers have exited the workforce since March.”
Even after arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement may drop removal proceedings if someone agrees to self-deport. During a recent ICE raid in Los Angeles, Mexican officials confirmed that 2 of the 42 Mexican nationals chose self-deportation rather than face detention and removal.
Trump’s approach follows successful historical precedents. During President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1954 deportation program, nearly 10 illegal aliens left voluntarily for each person arrested.
Additionally, the administration’s advertising campaign warns migrants against illegal entry while encouraging those already in the country to leave voluntarily with the message that they could later “have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American Dream.”