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Trump’s New “Self-Deportation” Stipend: How the $3,000 Incentive Works — and What Immigrants Give Up in Return

By Richard T. Herman

Immigration Articles, 15 min read

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a limited-time $3,000 “holiday stipend” plus a free flight to certain undocumented immigrants who agree to leave the United States voluntarily through the CBP Home app by December 31, 2025. DHS promotes this as a humane and cost-saving alternative to detention and deportation. Immigration lawyers and advocates warn that the program can pressure people into giving up legal rights, court protections, and future immigration options, especially those in removal proceedings or detention. Additionally, this initiative is often referred to as trump’s new $3000 self-deportation stipend.

The Official Government Announcement

Here is the direct government page announcing the $3,000 stipend:

Related official program pages tied to the offer:

Trump's $3,000 self-deportation stipend

 

What DHS Says the $3,000 Offer Includes

According to DHS, eligible participants who leave the U.S. by the end of 2025 may receive:

  • A $3,000 stipend (temporary end-of-year increase)

  • A government-funded flight home

  • In some cases, forgiveness of civil immigration fines

  • Temporary de-prioritization for arrest while departure is coordinated

All participation is routed through the CBP Home app.

$3000 self deportation DHS, Project Homecoming immigration, self deportation removal proceedings, detained immigrants self deportation,

How Many People Have “Self-Deported” in 2025?

DHS officials have publicly stated that approximately 1.9 million people have “voluntarily self-departed” since January 2025, and that tens of thousands used the CBP Home program specifically.

What DHS has not clearly published:

  • How many departures were specifically CBP Home cases

  • How many people received stipend payments

  • How many received government-funded flights

  • How many were in immigration court or detention at the time of departure

This lack of transparency is important. “Voluntary departure” is a broad category that includes many situations beyond the stipend program.

DHS $3,000 self-deportation stipend explained CBP Home app self deportation process voluntary departure vs deportation comparison chart immigration court consequences of self deportation

Is the Government Actually Paying the Money?

DHS’s position

DHS states that stipend payments are issued after verified return to the home country, and that travel assistance is coordinated in advance through CBP Home.

Independent scrutiny

Legal advocates and investigative journalists caution that the larger risk is not just whether the payment arrives, but whether immigrants are misled into surrendering legal rights worth far more than $3,000.

Independent analysis and reporting on this issue:

What Immigrants Get — and What They Give Up

What people get (short-term)

  • $3,000 (limited-time)

  • Flight home

  • Possible fine forgiveness

What people may be giving up (long-term)

1. Reentry bars

Leaving the U.S., even “voluntarily,” can trigger 3-year or 10-year bars — or worse — depending on unlawful presence and prior history.

2. Viable immigration relief

Departure can permanently damage or end eligibility for:

  • Asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT

  • Cancellation of removal

  • Adjustment of status through family or employment

  • Motions to reopen or appeals

  • Humanitarian pathways (case-specific)

3. Court protections and leverage

People in proceedings may lose:

  • Time to prepare evidence

  • Bond strategies

  • Negotiated case outcomes

  • Prosecutorial discretion opportunities

For the government’s own explanation of voluntary departure in court cases:

Should Immigrants Trust DHS on This?

DHS is an enforcement agency, not a neutral advisor.

Its press releases and app instructions are policy messaging, not individualized legal advice. DHS does not assess whether leaving is in a person’s best legal interest.

Trusted non-government “reality check” resources:

Critical Situations

If You Are in Removal Proceedings

This is where the risk is highest.

Leaving the U.S. without properly resolving a court case can result in:

  • An in-absentia removal order

  • Permanent loss of relief that may have been winnable

  • Much harsher reentry consequences later

Before any departure, a lawyer should confirm:

  • Your next hearing date

  • Whether DHS will move to dismiss or terminate proceedings

  • Whether judge-ordered voluntary departure is safer than administrative self-departure

  • The exact reentry consequences

If You Are Detained (or Facing Detention)

Detention creates coercive pressure.

People may be told to “leave now or remain detained,” without understanding what they are giving up.

Important guidance:

Detained individuals may still qualify for asylum, bond, cancellation, or motions. Signing departure paperwork without legal review can permanently close those doors.

Why DHS Is Pushing This Policy

According to government statements and media reporting, DHS estimates that forced deportation costs roughly $17,000 per person, while voluntary departure programs are significantly cheaper.

This cost calculus helps explain why financial incentives are politically attractive — even if the human and legal costs fall on immigrant families.

Bottom Line

$3,000 is not a benefit — it is an incentive to give up time, process, and rights.

For some people, leaving may be the right decision.
For many others, especially those in court or detention, it can be a permanent legal mistake.

What Immigrants SHOULD Do — and SHOULD NOT Do — Before Accepting a “Self-Deportation” Offer

This decision can permanently shape your immigration future. Before agreeing to leave the United States under any DHS “self-deportation” program, slow the process down and follow these guardrails.

What You SHOULD Do

1. Ask for time — immediately
You are not required to decide on the spot. Ask for time to consult a lawyer or trusted legal resource before agreeing to anything.

2. Get a legal screening, even a short one
A 20–30 minute legal review can reveal options you didn’t know existed, including:

  • asylum or withholding eligibility

  • cancellation of removal

  • family-based or employment-based strategies

  • motions to reopen or terminate

  • bond or release options (if detained)

3. Confirm whether you are in removal proceedings
If you have an immigration court case — even one you think is “inactive” — leaving without addressing it can trigger severe consequences.

4. Ask what happens to your court case, in writing
If DHS or ICE suggests departure, ask:

  • Will the court case be dismissed or terminated?

  • Will a removal order be entered if I leave?

  • Who confirms this in writing?

5. Calculate unlawful presence carefully
How long you’ve been undocumented matters. Leaving can trigger 3-year, 10-year, or permanent bars. Do not guess — calculate.

6. Think about your children and spouse
Leaving may:

  • separate you from U.S. citizen children for years

  • complicate future petitions filed on your behalf

  • create emotional and financial instability that cannot be undone

What You SHOULD NOT Do

1. Do not rely solely on DHS explanations
DHS is an enforcement agency. It does not advise you on what is best for your legal future.

2. Do not assume “voluntary” means “safe”
“Voluntary” does not mean:

  • no reentry bar

  • no future immigration consequences

  • no permanent damage to your case

3. Do not sign documents you don’t fully understand
This includes:

  • departure acknowledgments

  • waivers

  • app submissions you haven’t reviewed carefully

4. Do not assume the $3,000 is the real issue
The money is temporary. The consequences are long-term.

5. Do not decide under fear or detention pressure
Decisions made in panic or custody are often the hardest to reverse.

 The “$3,000 Trap” — Why the Incentive Is So Powerful (and So Dangerous)

The $3,000 stipend works because it targets people under maximum stress:

  • people afraid of arrest

  • people struggling financially

  • people separated from family

  • people without lawyers

In moments of fear, $3,000 can feel like relief. But in immigration law, short-term relief often creates long-term harm.

For many families, the real tradeoff is not:

“$3,000 vs. nothing”

It is:

“$3,000 now vs. the possibility of lawful return, protection, or family unity later.”

That is why immigration lawyers warn that the stipend can function less like help — and more like economic pressure disguised as choice.

 Why This Program Exists at All — The Government’s Incentive Problem

This policy is not about generosity. It is about capacity and cost.

The government faces:

  • overcrowded detention facilities

  • massive immigration court backlogs

  • high per-person removal costs

  • political pressure to show enforcement numbers

Paying people to leave:

  • reduces detention populations

  • avoids court hearings

  • lowers removal costs

  • accelerates statistics

From the government’s perspective, the math works.

From the immigrant’s perspective, the risk is asymmetric:

  • DHS saves money either way

  • you bear the legal and family consequences forever

That imbalance is why this program deserves scrutiny — and why informed consent is critical.

The Question No One Else Is Asking — “What If I’m Eligible for Relief and Don’t Know It?”

One of the most troubling aspects of self-deportation incentives is this reality:

Many people who leave under these programs never learn they had legal options.

Common examples:

  • asylum claims never screened

  • cancellation cases never evaluated

  • family petitions never explained

  • waivers never discussed

Once you leave:

  • it is often too late

  • deadlines expire

  • physical-presence requirements fail

  • relief disappears

In other words, ignorance becomes irreversible.

That is why immigration lawyers consistently say:

“Leaving is easy. Coming back legally is hard — and sometimes impossible.”

Final Takeaway for Immigrants and Families

If you remember only one thing from this article, let it be this:

A self-deportation decision should never be made quickly, emotionally, or without legal advice.

For some people, leaving may truly be the best option.

For many others, it is a decision made without full information — and paid for years later.

Frequently Asked Questions: DHS $3,000 Self-Deportation Stipend

1. What is the $3,000 self-deportation stipend offered by DHS?

The $3,000 self-deportation stipend is a temporary financial incentive offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to certain undocumented immigrants who agree to leave the United States voluntarily through the CBP Home app by a specified deadline. The program may also include a free flight home and, in some cases, forgiveness of civil immigration fines.

2. Is self-deportation the same as voluntary departure under immigration law?

No. Self-deportation through DHS is not the same as judge-ordered voluntary departure in immigration court. Court-granted voluntary departure is a legal remedy with specific protections, while DHS self-deportation is an administrative enforcement program that does not automatically protect future immigration rights.

3. Who qualifies for the $3,000 self-deportation payment?

Eligibility depends on DHS criteria and typically includes undocumented immigrants who:

  • register intent to depart using the CBP Home app,

  • agree to leave by the deadline, and

  • meet DHS screening requirements.

Many people with pending asylum cases, court proceedings, or potential relief may be eligible for the program — but participation can seriously harm their legal options.

4. Is the U.S. government actually paying the $3,000?

DHS states that the stipend is paid after the individual’s departure is verified. However, the more important legal issue is not just payment, but what rights and future immigration opportunities may be lost by leaving.

5. How many people have self-deported in 2025?

DHS has publicly claimed that approximately 1.9 million people have voluntarily left the U.S. in 2025, with tens of thousands reportedly using the CBP Home program. DHS has not released a detailed public breakdown showing how many people actually received stipends.

6. Does taking the stipend erase my immigration record?

No. Self-deportation does not erase your immigration history. Your departure is recorded and can still trigger 3-year, 10-year, or permanent bars to reentry depending on your prior unlawful presence and case history.

7. Can I return to the U.S. legally after self-deporting?

Sometimes, but often not easily. Many people who self-deport trigger long reentry bars or lose eligibility for visas, waivers, or family-based immigration. Leaving without legal planning can make lawful return much harder or impossible.

8. What happens if I am in removal proceedings and self-deport?

If you leave the U.S. while in removal proceedings without properly resolving your court case, you risk:

  • an in-absentia removal order,

  • permanent loss of relief options, and

  • harsher future immigration consequences.

Anyone in immigration court should consult a lawyer before leaving.

9. What if I am detained or afraid of being detained?

People in detention or under threat of detention face high pressure to agree to self-deport. However, detention does not eliminate rights to asylum, bond, cancellation of removal, or other relief. Decisions made under custody pressure are often irreversible, so legal advice is critical.

10. Is self-deportation really voluntary?

Legally, DHS labels the program voluntary. Practically, many immigrants experience it as coercive, especially when combined with fear of arrest, detention, or family separation. “Voluntary” does not mean risk-free.

11. Why is the government paying people to leave?

The federal government estimates that forced deportation costs far more per person than voluntary departure. Paying people to leave reduces detention costs, court backlogs, and enforcement resources — even though the long-term consequences fall on immigrant families.

12. Should immigrants trust DHS guidance about self-deportation?

DHS is an enforcement agency, not a legal advisor. Its announcements explain government policy, not whether leaving is in an individual’s best legal interest. Immigrants should verify information with an independent immigration lawyer before acting.

13. What legal options might I be giving up by self-deporting?

Depending on your situation, leaving the U.S. can mean giving up:

  • asylum or withholding claims,

  • cancellation of removal,

  • family-based or employment-based adjustment strategies,

  • motions to reopen or appeals, and

  • humanitarian visas or waivers.

Many people never learn they had these options until it is too late.

14. Is the $3,000 worth it?

For most people, $3,000 is small compared to the long-term legal cost of losing immigration relief, triggering reentry bars, or being separated from family for years. The financial benefit is temporary; the consequences can be permanent.

15. What should I do before agreeing to self-deport?

Before making any decision:

  • confirm whether you have an immigration court case,

  • get a legal screening to identify possible relief,

  • calculate unlawful presence and reentry bars,

  • understand how leaving affects your family, and

  • do not sign or submit anything you do not fully understand.

A short legal consultation can change the outcome entirely.

Talk to a Lawyer Before You Decide

If you or a loved one is considering DHS “self-deportation” — particularly with a pending court case, prior removal order, or detention risk — get legal advice first.

Ultimate Resource Directory: Self-Deportation, Voluntary Departure & Legal Alternatives (2025)

Official U.S. Government Resources (Primary Sources)

DHS & CBP — Program Announcements and Rules

Immigration Court & Legal Framework

Voluntary Departure vs. Removal (Court Context)

 Independent Journalism & Investigations

How the Program Works in the Real World

Policy Research & Data-Driven Analysis

Understanding the Strategy Behind “Pay-to-Leave” Policies

Know-Your-Rights & Advocacy Guidance (Non-Government)

Critical for Immigrants Facing Pressure to Leave

These resources explain what immigrants are not required to do, how to avoid coercion, and when to seek legal help.

Detention-Specific Resources

If You or a Loved One Is Detained or at Risk of Detention

Detained individuals often face intense pressure to agree to departure. These guides explain rights related to bond, asylum, and legal counsel.

Immigration Law Firm Guidance

Legal Strategy Before You Decide

When to Get Legal Help Immediately

You should speak with an immigration lawyer before agreeing to self-deport if:

  • you have any immigration court case, past or present

  • you have U.S. citizen or permanent resident family members

  • you entered the U.S. years ago and may face 10-year or permanent bars

  • you are detained or at risk of detention

  • you have never had a full legal screening

Get Legal Guidance Before You Decide

If you or a loved one is facing pressure to self-deport — especially under the $3,000 DHS incentive — legal advice can make the difference between a permanent mistake and a viable future option.

Written By Richard Herman
Founder
Richard Herman is a nationally recognizeis immigration attorney, Herman Legal Group began in Cleveland, Ohio, and has grown into a trusted law firm serving immigrants across the United States and beyond. With over 30 years of legal excellence, we built a firm rooted in compassion, cultural understanding, and unwavering dedication to your American dream.
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