January 29, 2026
The Trump administration is reviving its crackdown on illegal immigration with a new, controversial strategy. It now offers a $1,000 cash incentive and a plane ticket to migrants in irregular status who agree to return voluntarily to their home countries.
This incentive is implemented through the CBP Home app, a revamped version of a tool initially launched under Biden to manage entry requests. By declaring their intention to leave via the app, migrants are temporarily exempt from detention and forced removal.
The Department of Homeland Security claims to have already funded several returns, including a recent flight from Chicago to Honduras. According to authorities, this approach is more cost-effective and less risky than traditional arrest and deportation.
However, critics warn of serious legal consequences for migrants involved in ongoing cases. Withdrawing a case can lead to automatic deportation and invalidate certain protection claims, such as asylum.
The lack of coordination with immigration courts increases the risks for those who opt in. Migration experts argue the measure oversimplifies what are often complex and precarious life situations.
Faced with the logistical impossibility of deporting millions, the Trump administration is betting on persuasion. Time will tell whether the cash incentive is convincing—or merely a sign of the limits of a hardline policy.
