The Trump administration just turned holiday season into deportation season, offering undocumented migrants $3,000 cash plus free flights home if they leave by New Year’s Eve.
Story Highlights
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the tripled self-deportation incentive on December 22, 2025
- The $3,000 offer plus free flights aims to save taxpayers money versus $17,000 forced deportation costs
- Migrants must sign up through the CBP Home app and leave by December 31, 2025
- The program builds on Trump’s broader deportation strategy after falling short of the one million annual goal
Trump Administration Rebrands Immigration Policy as Holiday Incentive
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced December 22 that undocumented migrants can receive $3,000 and free flights home if they voluntarily leave the United States by year’s end. The offer represents a threefold increase from previous voluntary departure incentives and comes as the Trump administration seeks to accelerate deportations while cutting costs.
The policy leverages the CBP Home app, which Trump’s team rebranded from the Biden-era CBP One application in March 2025. Originally designed to facilitate legal entry appointments, the app now processes voluntary departures as part of the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy.
Cost-Cutting Strategy Behind Cash Incentives
DHS justified the increased stipend by citing May 2025 data showing forced deportations cost taxpayers an average of $17,000 per person. The voluntary departure program offers significant savings while potentially reducing detention facility overcrowding and legal processing backlogs that slow enforcement operations.
Noem framed the offer as both carrot and stick, warning migrants to “take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.” Her statement reflects the administration’s dual approach of incentivizing voluntary compliance while threatening expanded enforcement.
Enforcement Reality Falls Short of Campaign Promises
The accelerated incentive comes as Trump’s deportation goals face practical challenges. Despite promising one million annual deportations, the administration has removed approximately 622,000 individuals through December 2025, falling significantly short of targets that energized Trump’s political base.
The administration plans major enforcement expansion for 2026, including hiring additional agents, building new detention centers, and partnering with private companies for migrant tracking technology. The voluntary departure program serves as a bridge strategy while these infrastructure investments develop capacity for larger-scale operations.
Sources:
US triples stipend offer to migrants who ‘self-deport’ to $3000
