US Gives Undocumented Migrants $1,000 and Free Flight to Leave Voluntarily

The United States government has launched a new programme offering financial support to undocumented migrants who choose to leave the country voluntarily.

This is part of an expanded immigration enforcement drive under President Donald Trump. The initiative, managed through the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App, provides eligible participants with $1,000 and a free flight to their country of origin. 

Officials say the scheme allows individuals to manage their own departure while keeping open the option of future legal re-entry. Those who decline the offer may face arrest and removal without the possibility of returning lawfully.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than two million people have left the United States since President Trump returned to office. Of these, about 1.6 million departed voluntarily, while over 527,000 were deported. 

The administration projects that removals will reach nearly 600,000 by the end of the year, exceeding previous records. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the administration is “on pace to shatter historic records” for deportations during President Trump’s first year back in office, describing the figures as evidence of a strong enforcement agenda.

The DHS reports that irregular migration through key routes, including the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, has sharply declined, citing a 99.99% reduction in crossings. Independent verification of that figure has not yet been confirmed.

Federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CBP continue to conduct large-scale removal operations, despite ongoing legal challenges and opposition from several “sanctuary” jurisdictions. The DHS says that around 70% of those detained have been charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States, including serious offences such as homicide, sexual assault, and drug trafficking.

Officials present the voluntary departure scheme as a humane alternative to detention and forced deportation.