US Offers $3,000 Incentive for Undocumented Migrants to Leave by Year's End

In a bid to accelerate voluntary departures and reduce enforcement costs, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a limited-time holiday incentive. Undocumented migrants who sign up to self-deport through the CBP Home mobile application before December 31 will receive a $3,000 cash stipend, free travel to their home countries, and forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the country. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the incentive aims to encourage people to leave voluntarily, rather than facing arrest and forced removal. Since January 2025, over 1.9 million individuals have used the CBP Home program, and Noem is hoping that the increased incentive will lead to even more people taking advantage of the program. The CBP Home app was initially launched under the Biden administration for asylum interviews, but was rebranded under President Donald Trump to facilitate voluntary self-deportation. This approach is seen as a faster and cheaper alternative to arrests and detention, which can cost the government around $17,000 per person. The announcement is part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which has pledged to deport record numbers of undocumented immigrants. While the administration has deported between 261,000 and 622,000 people this year, officials say preparations are underway for an even more aggressive enforcement push in 2026, backed by billions of dollars in new funding and the hiring of thousands of additional immigration agents.