Trump's Self-Deportation Plan Nears 200,000 Departures with Incentives up to $2,600

The Trump administration's voluntary exit program for undocumented immigrants is approaching the milestone of 200,000 enrollments or departures from the United States, according to internal data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by Axios.

As of July 16, the initiative known as Project Homecoming had recorded 132,000 completed departures, with an additional 70,000 individuals registered and in the process of leaving the country, as reported on Tuesday.

How CBP Home Facilitates Departures

The program is primarily managed through CBP Home, a mobile app that allows immigrants to notify authorities of their intent to leave voluntarily, manage travel documents, coordinate flights, and apply for the financial incentive offered by the government once their departure is confirmed.

The value of the incentive has fluctuated since the program's inception. Initially, the administration offered $1,000 plus airfare. During the 2025 holiday campaign, the benefit rose to $3,000, and it currently stands at $2,600, payable upon the immigrant's exit from U.S. soil.

Government Savings and Cost Efficiency

DHS claims the program offers significant savings to the government. Authorities estimate that a voluntary departure costs approximately $2,500, plus the financial incentive, compared to the $18,245 required to detain, hold in custody, and deport an uncooperative immigrant.

Initial Struggles and White House Intervention

Despite its current high numbers, the program's rollout was slower than anticipated. In its first six months, it attracted only about 24,000 participants, as officials grappled with issues related to document issuance and flight arrangements.

This sluggish start prompted direct intervention from the White House to expedite the process. "There were daily calls from the White House and weekly high-level calls with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller directly," a source told Axios. "They wanted us to process thousands daily, but we were only processing dozens," the source added.

The Role of Detention Centers in Program Expansion

The program began to expand significantly in August 2025, when a Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) team member encouraged its use within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers.

Currently, there are case managers in 40 detention centers, with about half of the more than 200,000 cases involving individuals who were in immigration custody. According to ICE data, those opting for voluntary departure from a detention center remain an average of 17 days, compared to the typical 50-day conventional deportation process.

This reduction in detention time has helped free up space in facilities struggling with capacity issues. "During the initial phase of this process, the administration faced a shortage of beds. You can't conduct mass deportations without beds. They're intrinsically linked," Todd Bensman, a former advisor to border czar Tom Homan, explained to Axios.

DHS Declares Project Homecoming a Major Success

The Department of Homeland Security considers Project Homecoming to have exceeded its objectives significantly. "Thanks to the overwhelming success of Project Homecoming under President Trump, the CBP Home app has achieved much greater efficiency and participation than initially anticipated," a DHS spokesperson stated.

The agency estimates that the program could save $2.5 billion in deportation-related costs.

Ongoing Criticisms and Uncertainty About Future

Despite the government's highlighted results, the program faces criticism. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency that collaborated on the project until March 2026, ceased its involvement.

A source involved with the program lamented that "suddenly, the entire program was reduced to a spreadsheet for buying plane tickets."

Additionally, some Cuban immigrants using CBP Home have reported not receiving the promised financial incentive after leaving the United States.

Adding to the uncertainty is the future of the program itself. The contract with Salus Worldwide, the company responsible for its operational management, will run out of funds by the end of August 2026. DHS is already seeking a new provider, though it has yet to clarify whether this change will impact Project Homecoming's operation.