The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a temporary increase in the financial incentive for undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the country using the CBP Home mobile app.
Under a special year-end offer, individuals who register to self-deport by December 31 will receive $3,000 along with a free flight ticket to their home country.
Previously, those opting for voluntary departure through the CBP Home app were offered $1,000. The enhanced $3,000 incentive is valid only until the end of this year.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that nearly 1.9 million people have voluntarily left the United States since January 2025, with tens of thousands using the CBP Home programme.
“Illegal aliens should take advantage of this offer and self-deport. If they don’t, we will find them, arrest them, and they will never be allowed to return,” she said in a statement.
The term “illegal aliens” refers to individuals who entered the US without authorisation, overstayed their visas, or violated visa conditions—such as working on a student visa or remaining in the country after a tourist, student, or work visa expired.
According to DHS, individuals who self-deport through the app may also receive forgiveness of certain civil fines or penalties related to overstaying or failure to depart earlier.
Applicants must submit personal details and documents through the app, after which the government will arrange and cover the cost of travel.
Officials emphasised the distinction between voluntary self-deportation and forced deportation.
Those who are forcibly deported may face detention and long-term or permanent bans on re-entering the United States.
In contrast, DHS said individuals who leave voluntarily could have better chances of legally returning in the future, depending on their circumstances.
DHS has clarified that the $3,000 incentive will expire on December 31, after which regular enforcement measures will resume.
