Self-initiated application program prompts over 72,000 immigrants to leave.
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that the federal government claimed roughly 2.2 million "self-deportations," but internal DHS documents reviewed by media show about 72,000 departures tied to the incentive program known as Project Homecoming.
- Project Homecoming (回國計畫) offers up to $2,600 and free airline tickets; about half of the program participants were in ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) custody when they accepted it.
- Critics say the government is likely attributing voluntary departures that would have happened anyway to the program; privacy and reporting concerns persist around the CBP Home app.
- Voluntary departure is a longstanding immigration option that lets noncitizens leave without a formal removal order, but it can still affect future immigration prospects — legal advice is recommended.
Overview of the program and the numbers
It has been reported that the Trump administration touted a figure of about 2.2 million people who “self-deported” after stepped-up enforcement measures and a new app. But CNN and internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents tell a narrower story: roughly 72,000 migrants have left the United States through incentive-driven channels tied to what DHS calls Project Homecoming. The program offers up to $2,600 plus free airfare and is linked with the CBP Home mobile app (CBP is U.S. Customs and Border Protection). DHS officials argue these incentives reduce the higher per-case cost of formal removals.
The DHS documents reportedly show that 37,281 of those departures occurred while people were in ICE custody, suggesting the program has been used by detained individuals as an alternative to formal removal proceedings. Officials maintain each voluntary-departure case handled through the program costs several thousand dollars less than a full detention-and-removal case. Supporters describe the program as providing a more efficient, dignified pathway home for some migrants.
Effectiveness, criticism and privacy concerns
Experts and researchers question how much of the decline in population DHS attributes to the program can actually be credited to Project Homecoming. David Bier of the Cato Institute has argued that many people who left would have done so without incentives, and that the administration may be taking credit for departures driven by enforcement pressure or personal choice. The DHS 2.2 million figure, it has been reported, likely bundles many types of departures — not just those arranged or funded by the program — and may include people who avoided the app out of fear of reporting their movements to government systems.
Privacy and trust issues have also surfaced. Some migrants avoid the CBP Home app because they do not want to report identity or location information to government authorities; others accept the assistance because the cash and travel help are immediately useful. Independent data show voluntary departure is not new: Syracuse University data indicate more than 35,000 immigration cases in FY2025 closed with voluntary departure, up from about 9,000 the prior year, though how many used Project Homecoming is unclear.
What this means for migrants and policy watchers
For migrants and lawyers, the immediate takeaway is that voluntary departure remains an available option but is not a one-size-fits-all solution. "Voluntary departure" is a legal option that allows a noncitizen to leave without a removal order; that can spare some penalties tied to removal, but it may still carry consequences for future reentry or immigration benefits and often requires legal advice tailored to the individual's record. Detained people weighing the program face a trade-off: faster return with financial help versus potential future immigration consequences and privacy risks from interacting with government apps.
For policymakers and voters, the dispute over attribution matters: is the program genuinely driving returns, or is it a lower-cost accounting of departures that would have occurred under stricter enforcement? The answer affects budget planning, detention policy, and public claims about border enforcement success. For anyone currently in removal proceedings or considering an incentive offer, consulting an immigration lawyer is strongly recommended.
Source: Original Article