US Offers $1,000 Bonus for Undocumented Migrants Who Self-Deport

The United States government has introduced a programme offering financial incentives and relief from civil penalties to undocumented immigrants who choose to leave the country voluntarily.

The initiative, announced earlier this year by President Donald Trump, is now being implemented with new features designed to make departures more orderly and less punitive. At the centre of the programme is a digital application managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

Migrants who register must provide personal information, including their name, address, and a recent photograph. In return, they receive temporary protection from enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowing time to organise their departure.

Participants are eligible for a one-off “exit bonus” of USD 1,000 (approximately Ksh129,000) upon completing the process. The government will also cover travel expenses, including airfare and related transport, and waive civil fines associated with overstaying, reducing financial barriers to voluntary departure.

Officials argue that voluntary departures could significantly reduce costs compared with forced removals. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem noted that arresting, detaining, and deporting an individual typically costs USD 17,000 (around Ksh2.1 million), suggesting that the scheme could save taxpayers up to 70 per cent. 

The programme also allows authorities to focus enforcement on individuals considered a security or criminal risk. Critics, however, warn that the scheme operates alongside stricter immigration laws that leave many undocumented residents with few options. 

While the programme promises future eligibility for legal re-entry, the practical accessibility of such pathways remains uncertain. Since January, ICE has deported hundreds of non-citizens via commercial flights, prioritising those with criminal records or suspected security threats. 

Against this backdrop, the voluntary programme functions both as a cost-saving measure and a signal of the administration’s tougher immigration stance. The human impact is already evident. In August, Kenyan national Samuel Kangethe announced his decision to self-deport, citing concerns over increasingly restrictive laws.