President Donald Trump announced Monday a new plan aimed at encouraging illegal immigrants to self-deport, the program offers a $1000 stipend and travel assistance to those who voluntarily leave the United States using a new feature on the CBP Home mobile app.
According to DHS, participants who confirm their return to their home country through the app will receive the payment after verification.
DHS has not provided specific details about how the payments will be delivered or the full verification process. However, spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said users must submit personal information, documents, facial images, and geolocation data through the app.
“The alien must be at least three miles outside of the United States to successfully utilize this feature,” she explained, adding that facial recognition is required for verification.
Trump‘s plans for mass deportations have been hindered by multiple court challenges and stretched resources at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The administration began encouraging those without legal status to self-deport in early March.
The U.S. has run a self-deport program before, in 2008, then called Operation Self Departure. It sought to incentivize 457,000 undocumented immigrants from five cities to leave the country, but only eight people took part.
Homeland Security Secretary