In a bold move aimed at reducing deportation costs and streamlining immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has unveiled a new initiative offering undocumented immigrants $1,000 and travel assistance if they voluntarily leave the United States using a government-approved mobile app. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday that individuals who use the CBP Home app to self-deport will receive the stipend once their departure is confirmed via the app, which tracks location and identity through biometric and facial recognition data.
The plan represents a significant shift in immigration strategy, repurposing an existing mobile application originally designed to facilitate legal asylum claims. Now operating as CBP Home, the app allows users to submit their intent to self-deport, verify their departure by being at least three miles outside U.S. borders, and provide documentation or images confirming their exit. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called the program the “safest and most cost-effective” way to leave the country without risking arrest or detention.
The policy comes in response to slower-than-expected deportation rates during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. According to DHS estimates, a standard deportation costs U.S. taxpayers more than $17,000. Officials believe the self-deportation program could cut those costs by up to 70%, even after factoring in the $1,000 payment and travel aid.
So far this year, at least 5,000 individuals have notified authorities through the app that they plan to self-deport, according to the Migration Policy Institute. DHS has not confirmed the total number of completed departures but says participation is increasing. The app, downloaded about 1,500 times per day in 2025, has reached over 300,000 downloads since January.
To promote the program, DHS has launched a $200 million advertising campaign, led by Noem and targeting both English and Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S. and Mexico. The campaign emphasizes that voluntary departure may help protect an individual’s ability to return legally in the future and reduce the chance of detention before leaving the country.
Still, some immigration advocates and policy analysts caution against the implications of the program. Critics note that promises of future legal reentry remain uncertain, with some pointing out that many who leave may face lengthy bans or no legal pathway to return at all. Despite these concerns, the Trump administration views the initiative as a practical and humane solution that aligns with its broader immigration priorities.
As the administration continues to promote the CBP Home app and its self-deportation option, the approach marks a noteworthy turn in immigration enforcement — one that shifts responsibility to individuals while offering financial and logistical support in exchange for their voluntary exit.
