The Department of Homeland Security says self-deportation reduces the cost of illegal immigration enforcement by 70%.
American and Delta aircraft in Los Angeles (Photo: Shutterstock)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that illegal immigrants who use software to self-deport will also be paid a stipend of $1,000 after returning to their home country, in addition to free airfare.
According to a DHS news release, illegal immigrants will have the opportunity to receive both financial and travel assistance to facilitate travel back to their home country using the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s CBP Home App.
Illegal immigrants who return to their home country will then be able to receive the stipend after the app has confirmed their relocation.
“Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the U.S. and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the release stated. “Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent. Currently the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121.”
The release cited the case of an unnamed illegal immigrant who recently used the program to receive a ticket for a flight from Chicago to Honduras, with more tickets already booked over the next two weeks.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App. This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers. Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport.”
DHS stated that illegal immigrants who submit their intent to voluntarily self-deport with CBP Home will also be “deprioritized for detention and removal” ahead of their departure.
“Participation in CBP Home Self-Deportation may help preserve the option for an illegal alien to re-enter the United States legally in the future,” the release stated.
The move by DHS to facilitate more deportations comes after some U.S. airlines have accepted government contracts to fly illegal immigrants back to their home countries. In February, the Transportation Security Administration began blocking some illegal immigrants from flying.
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