United States to undocumented immigrants: Leave now or pay up to $700 per day
New CBP Home App Feature Allows Undocumented Immigrants to Self-Deport
In a groundbreaking move, United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has introduced a new feature on the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home app that allows undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the country. The feature is a strategic part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration policy aimed at reducing illegal residency and streamlining enforcement efforts.
“The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream,” Noem announced on Truth Social. However, she made it clear that those who do not take this opportunity will face strict consequences: “If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.”
How the CBP Home App Works
The self-deportation feature within the CBP Home app offers undocumented individuals a chance to exit the United States without facing formal deportation proceedings. According to Noem, hundreds have already used the app to voluntarily leave.
The initiative primarily targets individuals with final removal orders. Those who fail to leave could face fines of up to $700 per day. By choosing self-deportation, immigrants can avoid formal removal, which often involves detention and lengthy legal battles that could permanently bar them from re-entering the US.
One of the first to use the feature was Rajani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University. Her visa was revoked after allegations surfaced regarding her support for Hamas-related activities. Homeland Security cited national security concerns, leading to her departure from the US under the app’s self-deportation option.
United States -Trump Administration’s ‘Stay Out and Leave Now’ Campaign
The CBP Home app’s new tool is part of the Trump administration’s $200 million “Stay Out and Leave Now” campaign, aimed at persuading undocumented individuals to leave voluntarily. In a nationwide advertisement campaign, Kristi Noem emphasized the administration’s stance:
“President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return. But if you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream.”
This policy appears to be driving results. Noem stated that illegal border crossings have dropped by 95% under the current administration, with daily encounters reaching historic lows. Additionally, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made over 32,000 arrests since January, reinforcing the administration’s strict immigration enforcement strategy.
Why Introduce the CBP Home App’s Self-Deportation Feature?
The Trump administration has been actively deporting undocumented individuals, utilizing military and chartered flights. In the past seven weeks alone, three deportation flights have been sent to India. However, mass deportations come with high costs.
The new app feature offers an efficient and cost-effective alternative to large-scale deportation operations. A statement from the Department of Homeland Security highlighted the benefits: “The CBP Home app saves US taxpayer dollars and valuable CBP and ICE resources to focus on dangerous criminal aliens.”
Also Read : H-1B & F-1 Visa Holders Alert: Why US Immigration Lawyers Advise Against Travel