The United States government has announced a Christmas self-deportation incentive for undocumented immigrants, offering free flight tickets and a $3,000 cash bonus to those who voluntarily leave before December 31. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed this in a statement on Monday, warning that those who ignore the offer risk arrest, forced deportation and a lifetime re-entry ban.
According to DHS, undocumented immigrants who enrol through the CBP Home mobile application will receive fully funded travel arrangements and a stipend. “Illegal aliens who sign up to self-deport through the CBP Home app by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend in addition to a free flight home,” the department said, adding that civil fines and penalties would be waived.
DHS said the programme has increased voluntary departures, noting that “approximately 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported” since January 2025. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the move as a seasonal gesture, warning that enforcement would follow after the deadline. “If they don’t, we will find them, arrest them, and they will never return,” she said.