Politics
JUST IN: DHS Announces New Policy That Could Supercharge Deportations
Deportations could skyrocket under a proposed new policy by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that would give illegal immigrants additional resources to help them “self-deport.”
The policy change, set to be announced Monday by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, would see the federal agency pay for the commercial flights for migrants who choose to voluntarily return to their home countries rather than cost U.S. taxpayers the added fees and administrative expenses associated with apprehending, trying, and deporting them.
Incredibly, the agency is also set to announce that migrants who comply could be paid an additional $1,000 cash bonus upon proof that they have left the country.
On its face, the suggestion that illegal immigrants who broke the law should be paid to return home may outrage conservatives, but DHS claims that the actual savings of such a policy are significant. The sum total of detaining and supporting an illegal immigrant through deportation is an average cost of $17,500 per individual, Fox News reported, compared to $4,500 to assist and pay the same individual to self-deport.
Those wishing to apply may download the CBP Home app on their phone and submit an application to get started.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Noem said in a statement.
Aiding the DHS proposal is evidence that it works, according to the agency.
“They tell us they’ve already tested this out. Recently, they paid for an illegal alien to fly from Chicago back to Honduras. They tell us any aliens who sign up to self-deport will be immediately de-prioritized as a target for ICE,” said correspondent Bill Melugin. He added that “thousands” have already signed up, and officials expect that number to increase significantly in the coming weeks.
WATCH:
A fact sheet released by the White House last week celebrated immigration milestones reached in the president’s first 100 days. Among them:
- Illegal border encounters are down 95% year-over-year;
- “Gotaways” — considered the top domestic threat stemming from illegal crossings — are down 99%;
- Border catch-and-release cases are down 99.99% from the worst month on record under the Biden administration;
- More than 85 miles of border wall has been built or are in the planning stages; and,
- More than 150,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested and over 139,000 deported.
With efficiency has come scrutiny of the Trump administration’s so-called disregard for “due process” among those targeted. The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant living in Maryland who was deported to El Salvador, remains an epicenter of the debate.
During an interview last week, President Trump made note of multiple tattoos on Garcia’s hands as proof he was affiliated with the violent MS-13 gang and therefore eligible for deportation under the Alien Enemies Act. That estimation was backed up by the administration’s nominee to head the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and family members close to Garcia have described him as violent and gang-affiliated as recently as four years ago.
