The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will now offer illegal immigrants a $1,000 travel stipend and free commercial flights if they self-deport from the United States.
The decision is expected to reduce current deportation costs on American taxpayers by as much as 70%.
With the now-added incentive to self-deport, lawmakers are hoping those in the country illegally will voluntarily leave the U.S.
On Monday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) joined Newsmax to discuss the stipend and airfare coverage.
“The American people have really suffered, as you said. There’s not 11, there’s not 15 million, there’s not 20 million. There are closer to probably 30 million people here that are not supposed to be here,” said Tuberville. “They’re illegal.”
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The lawmaker stressed that the offer cuts costs significantly for both the federal government and those paying taxes.
“President Trump’s probably putting a little bait out there for him to say, listen, we’ll pay you $1,000 to go back. Because it costs much more than $1,000 to run these people down, transport them to the border, and transport them to wherever they want to go. It would probably be a very big discount for us to be able to send everybody back for $1,000.”
Illegals who break the law and enter our country ILLEGALLY are CRIMINALS.
They have two options: leave on their own or get deported. pic.twitter.com/ZMzSZVRvKv
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 6, 2025
According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the offer of financial assistance and coverage of travel expenses is meant not only to facilitate deportation but also to protect those enforcing immigration laws.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Noem told Fox News. “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.”
Illegal aliens submitting their intent to voluntarily self-deport in CBP Home will also be deprioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure.
DHS has released data showing that, on average, it costs over $17,000 to arrest, detain, and deport a single illegal immigrant. With the stipend included, the cost for deportation of an illegal alien can be reduced to just $4,500 on average.
The Trump Administration has so far deported only 152,000 individuals since January 20.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
