Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, May 6: In a bold and unprecedented move, the Donald Trump administration has unveiled a self-deportation incentive plan aimed at easing the financial and logistical burden of immigration enforcement. Under this initiative, illegal immigrants in the United States will be offered a stipend of $1,000 and full travel reimbursement if they voluntarily return to their home countries.
The scheme, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will be facilitated through the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App — a digital platform designed to streamline voluntary exits. "Any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will receive a $1,000 stipend, which will be disbursed once their return has been verified through the app," read an official statement from DHS.
According to the department, this initiative is expected to significantly cut costs. Presently, the average expense involved in arresting, detaining, and deporting an undocumented migrant is estimated at $17,121. By encouraging voluntary departures, officials claim this new approach could reduce enforcement costs by as much as 70 percent.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in the announcement, “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest.”
President Donald Trump, during a recent campaign rally in Michigan, praised the initiative as a testament to his administration’s resolve to curb illegal immigration. “Our first 100 days have been the most effective in US history,” he declared, highlighting policies like stepped-up border controls and deportation efforts.
However, not all observers are convinced. The Brookings Institution, a leading US think tank, has questioned the effectiveness of current deportation efforts, stating that the number of actual removals remains lower than expected due to complex legal and diplomatic hurdles. “The numbers remain modest, but the chilling effects on immigrant communities are evident,” it said in a recent report.
Senior Fellow Darrell West from Brookings added, “While immigration remains a politically potent issue, public sentiment does not favour mass deportations without due process. There’s a growing perception that the administration’s approach is overly harsh.”
As the 2024 election season gains momentum, the Trump administration's self-deportation stipend programme is likely to draw both support and criticism, adding another flashpoint to the ever-contentious immigration debate in the United States.