US Offers $2,600 Incentive for Undocumented Migrants to Self-Deport
Incentive for Voluntary Departure
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security in the United States introduced a program offering $2,600 (approximately Rs 2.4 lakh) to undocumented migrants, including those from India, as an incentive to voluntarily leave the country.
According to the department, undocumented individuals can utilize the Customs and Border Protection Home Mobile App to express their intention to depart the US voluntarily.
In a social media announcement, the department encouraged migrants by stating, “You can go home with a fresh start,” accompanied by visuals of iconic landmarks such as India’s Taj Mahal and Colombia’s Cartagena Cathedral, along with a depiction of Chinese architecture.
Participants in this program will receive a complimentary flight back home along with the $2,600 exit bonus upon registering their departure intention through the CBP Home app.
You can go home with a fresh start!
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 17, 2026
Receive a FREE flight home and a $2,600 exit bonus when you use CBP Home to self-deport: https://t.co/YGo3uuNvrE pic.twitter.com/ZdSBlrJryO
The department clarified that those opting for this route would not incur penalties for their previous undocumented status. This initiative allows individuals to return home as regular travelers, avoiding arrest, detention, or any form of restraints.
In March 2025, the Trump administration had launched a revamped version of the CBP Home application to facilitate self-deportation for undocumented migrants. The previous administration had utilized an earlier version, CBP One, to assist migrants in entering the US legally.
In May, the Department of Homeland Security reported that the average expense associated with detaining and deporting undocumented individuals in the US was around $17,000.
Since Trump resumed office in early 2025, his administration has intensified immigration enforcement, leading to widespread deportations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs informed Parliament that over 3,000 Indians were deported from the US in 2025.