‘Fly home for free’: US offers $2,600 bonus to illegal immigrants for self-deportation

The Department of Homeland Security has announced a self-deportation initiative offering free flights and a $2,600 exit bonus to illegal immigrants willing to voluntarily return to their home countries. The scheme, promoted through social media posts featuring global landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, is part of a broader effort to reduce enforcement costs and encourage voluntary departures.

The programme, titled “Project Homecoming”, was introduced following the start of Donald Trump’s second term. Migrants are encouraged to use the CBP Home mobile application to register their intent to leave, submit personal details, and access travel and financial assistance under the initiative.

According to officials, more than 2.2 million migrants have used the programme since early 2025. The department stated that voluntary departures significantly reduce costs, estimating that deporting an individual forcibly costs over $18,000, while the incentive-based model lowers expenses to around $5,100 per person.

The scheme allows participants to return to their countries as regular travellers without undergoing detention or physical restraints, positioning it as a “safe and orderly alternative.” The financial incentive has also been revised multiple times, increasing from $1,000 at launch to $3,000 briefly, before being set at $2,600 earlier this year.

The promotional campaign, however, has drawn mixed reactions online, with several users criticising the use of taxpayer funds and questioning the messaging strategy. Others responded with sarcasm, while some raised concerns over the broader implications of incentivising self-deportation as part of immigration policy.