The Trump administration's latest immigration proposal may sound like satire—but it's all too real.
In a stunning announcement today, the Department of Homeland Security unveiled a new initiative that would offer $1,000 to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily agree to “self-deport” via a newly rebranded government app, CBP Home. The payment would be issued after the migrant's departure is confirmed.
Officials say it's a cost-saving strategy, noting that arresting, detaining, and removing someone can cost the government more than $17,000 per person. But behind the bureaucratic logic lies a deeply troubling reality: this program amounts to coercive expulsion dressed up as voluntary choice—one that preys on fear, instability, and legal confusion.
🚨 The “Choice” to Leave: Voluntary or Voluntold?
The program is being sold as a “dignified way” for people to leave the U.S. while avoiding ICE raids, detention, or forced deportation. In reality, it's emerging against a backdrop of record-high deportations, widespread ICE arrests at courthouses, and a looming mass removal operation promised by Trump himself.
Can a decision truly be “voluntary” when made under threat of detention, family separation, or removal to a country where you face persecution, violence, or poverty?
The App That Tracks You Out
The CBP Home app—essentially a rebranded version of the Biden-era CBP One—will allow migrants to organize travel, gather documents, and book flights. DHS says the government may assist in logistics and that participants will be "deprioritized for detention" if they show progress toward leaving.
But here's the fine print: using the app may also require disclosing your location, biometric data, and travel plans to the very agency tasked with your removal. This raises serious privacy and due process concerns.
A Bribe or a Band-Aid?
This $1,000 “offer” is the latest attempt to substitute cash incentives for meaningful immigration reform. It reflects the Trump administration's ongoing attempt to monetize migration control while avoiding legal accountability.
It also raises serious constitutional and ethical issues:
Due Process: Many migrants are eligible for asylum, special visas, or relief under U.S. law. Should they be paid to give that up?
Coercion: Cash in exchange for surrendering your legal rights is not a bargain—it's a bribe under duress.
Discrimination: This program targets a vulnerable class of people who may lack legal counsel, face language barriers, or suffer from trauma and fear.
Stand Firm, Know Your Rights
We urge all migrants and their families to consult an immigration attorney before using CBP Home or accepting any offer to “self-deport.” You may have legal options—including asylum, cancellation of removal, or adjustment of status.
📞 If you're unsure about your case or need legal representation, contact Saluja Law today. We fight for justice, dignity, and the rights of immigrants every day.