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The Trump administration, under the guidance of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has rolled out Project Homecoming, an initiative designed to incentivize undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the United States. On May 19, 2025, a group of Honduran migrants who chose to return to their home country through the CBP Home app - part of this new initiative - were assisted by staff at the Center for Attention to Returned Migrants in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

This initiative takes a distinctive approach to immigration enforcement by offering free flights and a $1,000 stipend to undocumented immigrants who opt to self-deport. Secretary Noem emphasized the benefits of the program, stating, "If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that 64 immigrants participated in the first flight on May 18, 2025, with 38 bound for Honduras and another 26 for Colombia.

President Trump had campaigned on a promise of mass deportations but has expressed dissatisfaction with the current rate of deportations. To bolster these efforts, the administration has introduced the CBP Home app, facilitating easier self-deportation for undocumented immigrants. According to the DHS statement from May, those who register for the program will be deprioritized for detention and removal, provided they show progress towards their departure.

The financial burden of traditional deportations has been a point of concern, with DHS estimating the cost of arrest, detention, and removal at $17,121 per individual. Project Homecoming aims to reduce these costs while presenting a seemingly more humane option for undocumented immigrants.

Despite Monday's flight being promoted as the program's official launch, a previous instance of a government-sponsored flight under similar conditions was noted in May, when an immigrant from Chicago self-deported to Honduras. Concurrently, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the same day, allowing the revocation of Temporary Protected Status for nearly 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants, has intensified the urgency surrounding immigration issues, potentially increasing the number of people vulnerable to deportation.

While the administration promotes the program as a voluntary and beneficial option, criticism has emerged from immigrant rights advocates who question the reliability of the promised stipend and the broader ethical implications. Maribel Hastings from America's Voice contends that the program unfairly targets immigrants who have substantially contributed to the U.S. economy and society.

Furthermore, experts like Aaron Reichlin-Melnick from the American Immigration Council caution potential participants about long-term legal repercussions. Immigrants who have resided illegally in the U.S. for over a year risk a decade-long ban on reentry, a detail that the program does not explicitly address.

Historically, the notion of self-deportation is not new. Mitt Romney, a former Republican presidential nominee, proposed a similar idea in 2012, an approach that was critiqued by Donald Trump himself as “maniacal” at the time.

As Project Homecoming commences, the discussions reflecting varied perspectives on this initiative continue, painting a complex picture of America's ongoing struggle with immigration policies.