Trump’s Controversial Plan: Paying Immigrants to Leave the U.S.

President Trump unveils a bold self-deportation plan offering cash, airfare, and legal return pathways to undocumented immigrants, prioritizing criminal deportations while creating opportunities for law-abiding migrants to return through proper channels.

Quick Takes

Trump’s self-deportation program would provide financial incentives and plane tickets to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the US.
The program prioritizes deporting criminals while creating legal pathways for “good” migrants to return.
Migrants who use the CBP One app to self-deport would receive priority consideration for legal reentry.
Nearly one million migrants have received formal termination notices warning them to self-deport immediately.
Trump emphasized the importance of maintaining agricultural and hospitality workforce needs through this process.

Financial Incentives for Voluntary Departure

In a significant shift in immigration enforcement strategy, President Trump has announced a self-deportation program that would offer undocumented immigrants financial incentives to voluntarily leave the United States. The proposal, outlined during a recent interview, includes providing migrants with “a stipend” and airfare to return to their home countries. This approach marks a departure from traditional enforcement tactics and aims to address the ongoing border crisis through a combination of enforcement and incentives rather than solely through detention and forced deportation.

The program would be part of a broader immigration strategy that distinguishes between different categories of undocumented immigrants. Trump emphasized that the administration’s primary focus would be on removing criminals, particularly what he described as “murderers” and gang members. Meanwhile, those without criminal records – whom Trump referred to as “good” migrants – would be offered a pathway to return to the United States legally after participating in the self-deportation initiative.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Tuesday that he planned to roll out a new program offering money for immigrants in the country illegally to leave voluntarily. https://t.co/6C50LBCSLi pic.twitter.com/WpWviPT5pb

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 16, 2025

Pathway to Legal Return

A key component of Trump’s announced plan is the potential for those who self-deport to receive priority consideration for legal reentry. The Department of Homeland Security has updated the CBP One app to facilitate these self-deportations, providing a technological infrastructure for the program. Those who utilize this official channel would reportedly have better chances of returning through proper legal channels compared to those who refuse to comply with the initiative. “We’re going to give them a stipend. We’re going to give them some money and a plane ticket, and then we’re going to work with them – if they’re good – if we want them back in, we’re going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can,” explained Trump.

The administration has already issued formal termination notices to nearly one million migrants, warning them to self-deport immediately or face potentially permanent reentry bans. This creates significant pressure for compliance while simultaneously offering an incentive structure for those who cooperate with the voluntary departure program. Though specific timeline details remain unclear, the administration appears to be moving forward with implementing various components of this comprehensive approach.

Economic Considerations

Trump’s plan acknowledges the economic reality of America’s dependence on immigrant labor in certain sectors. During his announcement, he specifically mentioned the importance of maintaining adequate workforce levels for industries such as hospitality and agriculture. The proposed system would include mechanisms to recommend individuals for these positions, suggesting a pragmatic approach that balances enforcement priorities with economic needs.

The strategy comes amid criticism of other deportation measures, including reports of migrants being deported to prisons in El Salvador. By presenting this self-deportation program as “comfortable” and potentially beneficial to participants, the administration appears to be offering what it views as a more humane alternative while maintaining its commitment to reducing unauthorized immigration. The success of this approach will likely depend on implementation details that have not yet been fully articulated.