The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a new incentive-based effort aimed at accelerating the departure of illegal migrants from the United States before the end of the year, offering $3,000 cash payments, free airfare, and potential waivers of certain civil penalties to those who voluntarily leave the country by Dec. 31, 2025, according to reporting by CBS News.
Under the program, DHS has tripled its previous “exit bonus” from $1,000 to $3,000. Migrants who wish to participate must enroll through the CBP Home mobile application — a rebranded version of the Biden-era CBP One app — and complete their departure with federal verification confirming they have exited the United States. Only after that confirmation will the stipend be paid, DHS officials say.
Eligible participants will also receive government-funded airfare to their home countries, and in some cases, DHS may waive outstanding civil fines or immigration-related penalties tied to their unlawful presence. The department argues the approach is both fiscally responsible and administratively efficient, particularly as border enforcement and interior immigration operations intensify under President Donald Trump.
Read more: December 21, 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS News that the incentive is temporary and warned migrants who decline the offer that enforcement will follow. “Those who do not take this opportunity will be found, arrested, and removed — and they will never return,” Noem said, underscoring the administration’s hardline posture.
The CBP Home app is now central to the strategy. Originally designed to allow migrants to schedule asylum appointments at ports of entry, the platform has been repurposed to facilitate voluntary departures. Migrants use the app to signal intent to leave; once approved, DHS coordinates travel and monitors exit compliance. Officials say individuals who demonstrate “meaningful strides” toward departure may receive a short-term reprieve from immediate arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, though enforcement remains the default for those who fail to comply.
DHS maintains the program will save taxpayers substantial sums. As of May 2025, ICE estimated the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal migrant at approximately $17,000. By contrast, voluntary departures with travel assistance cost a fraction of that amount, even with the added cash incentive. Administration officials argue the math is clear: paying $3,000 and airfare is significantly cheaper than extended detention, court proceedings, and forced removals.
To promote the initiative, DHS has reportedly launched a holiday-themed advertising campaign portraying self-deportation as a “dignified” option. According to The Independent, the campaign features nostalgic Christmas music and imagery of travelers boarding planes, a stark contrast to traditional enforcement messaging. Internal DHS data cited by the outlet indicates tens of thousands of migrants have already departed using the app since the self-deportation feature was introduced earlier this year, following significant federal spending on outreach and advertising.
Also read this: Photos of Bill Gates and Sergey Brin Surface in Newly Released Epstein Files, Renewing Transparency Debate
Supporters of the policy say it strikes a balance between enforcement and efficiency, reducing strain on detention facilities while restoring consequences for illegal entry. Critics, however, argue that the payments could encourage abuse of the system or be perceived as rewarding unlawful behavior. DHS officials counter that the incentive is time-limited and paired with tougher enforcement for those who remain.
As the year-end deadline approaches, the Trump administration is betting that cash, convenience, and certainty will persuade more migrants to leave voluntarily — shifting immigration control away from costly detention operations and toward a faster, enforcement-driven resolution for those who refuse to comply.
