The United States government has sharply escalated pressure on undocumented migrants by tripling its so-called voluntary departure incentive to $3,000, a move critics describe as a calculated blend of cash inducement and intimidation designed to push vulnerable people out of the country before the end of the year. Announced by the Department of Homeland Security just days before Christmas, the limited-time offer applies only to migrants who register and leave the U.S. by December 31, 2025, intensifying what advocates say is an atmosphere of fear during the holiday season.
Under the policy, undocumented migrants who agree to “self-deport” will receive the $3,000 stipend, free airfare to their country of origin, and waivers for some civil penalties tied to unlawful presence. Registration and coordination are handled through the CBP Home app, a rebranded version of the controversial CBP One platform, which requires migrants to submit personal data directly to U.S. authorities before departure. DHS says participants may be temporarily deprioritized for arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement while making travel arrangements, though no long-term guarantees are offered.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem framed the program as a generous opportunity, but paired it with a blunt warning that underscores the coercive tone of the initiative. She stated that undocumented migrants should accept the offer now or face arrest, detention, and permanent exclusion from the United States later, reinforcing fears that the “choice” to leave is being made under duress rather than genuine consent.
DHS argues the policy is fiscally responsible, noting that a traditional arrest-to-deportation process can cost taxpayers an average of $17,000 per person, compared to a fraction of that for voluntary departures. The department claims that since January 2025, roughly 1.9 million undocumented migrants have left the country, with tens of thousands reportedly using the CBP Home app. Earlier in the year, a similar program controversially offered cash incentives to unaccompanied migrant teenagers to return to their home countries, sparking backlash from child welfare and human rights organizations.
The incentive hike aligns with the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration agenda, which prioritizes rapid removals, expanded surveillance, and public messaging aimed at deterrence. But immigrant rights advocates warn that the program glosses over serious legal and humanitarian consequences. Lawyers stress that “voluntary” departure does not automatically erase immigration penalties, and migrants who have overstayed for more than a year may still trigger 10-year re-entry bans, effectively shutting the door on any future legal return to the U.S.
Advocacy groups have also raised alarms over reports that promised incentives in earlier versions of the program were delayed or not fully delivered, leaving migrants stranded or worse off after returning home. Others question the ethics of offering cash during a period of heightened enforcement raids, arguing that the program exploits fear created by government threats of mass arrests.
The announcement comes amid intensified end-of-year enforcement operations, with DHS openly signaling that those who do not leave voluntarily may face swift action. For many undocumented families—some of whom have lived, worked, and raised children in the U.S. for years—the decision is agonizing, involving separation from loved ones, loss of livelihoods, and uncertain futures back home.
As the December 31 deadline approaches, legal experts and rights groups are urging migrants to seek independent legal advice before enrolling, warning that sharing personal information through government apps carries long-term risks. While DHS presents the $3,000 offer as a holiday “gift,” critics say it reflects a broader strategy of pressuring marginalized communities to disappear quietly, raising profound questions about fairness, consent, and the true cost of America’s immigration crackdown.
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