The Trump administration plans to pay unaccompanied migrant teens $2,500 to voluntarily leave the U.S., sparking criticism from immigrant advocates.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to offer unaccompanied migrant teenagers a $2,500 payment if they voluntarily return to their home countries, CNN reported. According to an internal memo, the initiative will begin with 17-year-olds and require approval from an immigration judge. Payments will be issued upon arrival in their home country to aid “reintegration efforts.”
The Trump administration already offers $1,000 “exit bonuses” to undocumented adults who choose self-deportation, arguing the scheme is cheaper than detention and deportation. An ICE spokesperson said the program is “strictly voluntary” and lets minors “make an informed decision about their future.”
As of October 2, about 2,100 unaccompanied minors remain in federal custody. Critics say the plan undermines legal protections for vulnerable youths. “There is no legitimate reason for the government to incentivize voluntary departure with a financial payoff,” said Neha Desai of the National Center for Youth Law.