President Donald Trump has offered to pay a $1,000 stipend as travel assistance to migrants who decide to voluntarily deport themselves from the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Mr Noem noted that the policy, which will offer $1,000 and a flight home to each immigrant who self-deports, covers part of the Trump administration’s push to encourage immigrants to deport themselves as a way to help the president meet lofty immigration promises.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” he said.
Mr Noem added, “DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App.”
Since coming to power in January, Mr Trump has threatened certain unauthorised immigrants with prosecution, jail time and fines should they fail to register with the federal government.
His administration has also resorted to some harsh policies that have threatened the survival of unauthorized immigrants in the country and robbed them of access to some financial services.
The statement described self-deportation as a dignified way to leave the U.S., because it allows illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Illegal aliens submitting their intent to voluntarily self-deport in CBP Home will also be deprioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure,” the statement added.
Mr Noem noted that the stipend would be paid after immigrants confirm their travel home through a government app CBP Home unveiled earlier this year, adding the programme would save the government the costs needed to arrest, detain and fly people out of the country on government-chartered planes.
