Giving illegal aliens a bonus … for leaving
This is certainly creative:
FOX EXCLUSIVE: DHS will announce today that they will begin paying for the commercial flights of illegal aliens who self-deport from the U.S., & they will pay these aliens an additional $1,000 once they are confirmed to have left the country. DHS tells @FoxNews this will save…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 5, 2025
From Kristi Noem:
If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. 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.
And from one of the comments there:
Let’s see some federal judge say they can’t do this.
Could be.
I have no idea how many people will take the government up on the offer.
NOTE: The first time I can recall hearing the phrase “self-deport” was in 2012, when Romney had a plan for it. Remember?
Call me crazy, but I’m not sure paying people to leave is going to have the desired long-term effect. You get more of what you incentivize, and I’m not sure the illegals that would receive this “bounty” on their own criminal behavior (and they all know what they’re doing is illegal) wouldn’t expect it to happen again in the future under a different administration.
I might be more inclined to support such a bounty if those taking it understood they forever forfeit their right to be in the United States forevermore, in any capacity, and if found again within our borders will place them in a whole different system than the one they’re used to.
They are not welcome. A free flight and extra $1k when they touch down doesn’t send that message in my opinion.
Unwillin’ Barkis:
Good point, but I’m going to assume the administration has thought of that and it won’t apply to new or very recent post-Trump arrivals.
Here’s an interesting long term solution to the immigration problem: https://www.piratewires.com/p/paywall-the-border?f=home
I grant that there will be those who may game the system in the way that Unwillin’ Barkis suggests can take place. But at first blush, I’m willing to concede that, in favor of ridding ourselves of those who will take us up on the offer and kindly return to their homes.
Not sure about the exact phrase, but Eisenhower’s Operation Wetback had a similar impact with many illegals leaving voluntarily.
Reportedly, it costs about $17k to perform a deportation. This plan costs $4.5k per voluntary deportee.
Since the CBP is going to get your name and other identifying info, I’m betting it’s a one-time offer.
Another great move by the Trump Administration.
Means those ICE grabs “chose ” not to leave.
I’m sure it’s a one-time offer. And it seems that those who avail themselves of it do NOT forfeit their right to apply for (but not necessarily be granted) LEGAL return, which I think is absolutely fine – under Biden’s illegitimate “reimagining” of international asylum law, they were told they were indeed taking steps toward legal entry rather than entering as automatic criminals. (Please note: I except those who were actual criminals or have become such, beyond illegal entry, since coming here. And I hope the EO maintains our current “out for good” policy toward those illegal entrants who were already criminals in their home countries or have committed further crimes here.)
So – leave with a stipend, reapply for actual legal entry, and see how you do.
I love this plan.
But then we need to recapture the costs for these “free passes” back from the Biden and Mayorkas and Garland estates, plus the Dem party coffers, and the accounts of the fraudulent NGOs, et al.; as the original sources/ causes of this untenable deportation situation. [Be nice if we could tax or charge the employers who knowingly hired these folks, too, but NC has already explained that E-verify is equivalent to a net fraud, too. (specifically designed to not do what it was claimed it would do) ].
Why can’t we claim those 12 million or so are a planned (but not armed/ non violent) invasion and just collect them all as POW’s? Due POW’s get any “due process” as persons found living in a “conquered country”? [aside from the rules of war handling?]
@ Christopher B > “Reportedly, it costs about $17k to perform a deportation. This plan costs $4.5k per voluntary deportee.”
I think President Trump is very familiar with cutting sunk costs (the money expended on housing, welfare, legal costs, etc) to avoid throwing more good money after bad.
Another advantage of electing people who have actually had real jobs outside the government-academic-legal treadmill of most of our candidates.
@ David Aitken > “Here’s an interesting long term solution to the immigration problem:”
I like it – haven’t seen that on the news before this.
Pretty sure I read a few months ago that some other countries were having great success with this type of offer (Scandinavian?) only they offered more, something like $3-4k. People were jumping at the chance because they can actually set themselves up in their native countries with that kind of seed money.
It’s a great idea IMO and leads to a transparent and SAFE deportation for all parties.
Anyone else wonder why there were no judicial injunctions issued while Biden was opening the southern border? Oh, wait, I think there was one issued when Texas Governor Abbott tried to place floating obstacles in the Rio Grande River ordering him to remove them. Never mind!