In what Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has described as a "limited-time opportunity" during the holiday season, the U.S. government is offering a significant financial package to undocumented migrants who choose to leave the country voluntarily by December 31, 2025.
The "Exit Bonus" Details
The new initiative, promoted under the slogan "The best gift you can give your family," aims to clear the immigration backlog using financial incentives rather than forced removal.
- The Stipend: The government is tripling the previous $1,000 incentive to $3,000 for those who register to leave through the CBP Home app.
- Free Travel: The DHS will arrange and pay for a free flight back to the migrant's home country.
- Legal Forgiveness: Participants are eligible for the forgiveness of civil fines or penalties incurred for overstaying their visas.
The Choice: Voluntary Exit vs. Arrest
Secretary Kristi Noem issued a stern warning alongside the announcement, emphasizing that this "Christmas gift" is a final chance to avoid more severe consequences.
"Illegal aliens should 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," Noem stated in a DHS press release.
By choosing voluntary departure, migrants avoid the trauma of a raid and the permanent ineligibility for future legal entry that comes with a formal deportation order.
The Cost Factor: Why the Government is Paying
While paying individuals to leave may seem counterintuitive to some, the DHS argues it is a massive cost-saving measure for taxpayers.
- Formal Deportation Cost: Roughly $17,121 (average cost to arrest, detain, and remove one individual).
- Self-Deportation Cost: Roughly $5,000 (including the $3,000 stipend and airfare).
- Projected Savings: The administration expects this program to reduce deportation expenses by nearly 70%.
Criticism and Concerns
The program has faced backlash from immigration advocates and legal experts. Many warn that the CBP Home app (formerly CBP One) is being used to bypass due process. There are also concerns that migrants who have built lives in the U.S. for decades are being pressured into leaving without understanding their potential paths to legal status, such as asylum or family-based petitions.
As the December 31 deadline approaches, the administration is gearing up for a more aggressive enforcement phase in 2026, which reportedly includes hiring thousands of new agents and building massive new detention centers.
