Self-deportations of illegal immigrants have surged since President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began emphasizing a more cost-effective voluntary departure program, according to newly released agency data.
In March, the Trump administration relaunched a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mobile app designed to facilitate self-deportation for illegal immigrants, allowing them to leave the United States voluntarily rather than wait for arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The app is part of a broader initiative that includes financial incentives—such as paying for one-way flights to migrants’ home countries and offering $1,000 bonuses to those who can verify their return abroad, Breitbart News reported.
According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, the results speak for themselves: tens of thousands of illegal immigrants have used the CBP Home App to self-deport, saving taxpayers millions compared to the high cost of ICE-led removals.
In addition to ramping up interior enforcement, the administration has increased pressure on illegal immigrants by sharply raising fines for failing to depart as ordered. Since President Trump took office, ICE has issued nearly 10,000 fine notices.
Labor data further reflects the impact of these efforts. Reports from multiple media outlets indicate that around one million foreign-born workers—many of whom are illegal immigrants—have exited the U.S. labor force since Trump assumed office in late January, creating new opportunities for lower- and middle-income American workers, the report added.
