Scholarships are lower than actual deportation, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has said it will pay $1,000 to undocumented US immigrants who will voluntarily return by moving forward with plans for massive deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a news release Monday that it is also paying for travel assistance, saying that it will inform the government’s planned return to the country using an app called CBP Home will be “deprived” for immigrant detention and removal.
“If you’re here illegally, self-deporting is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the US to avoid arrests. DHS currently offers illegal alien financial travel aid and scholarships to return to your home country through the CBP Home app.
The salaries and airfares for those who depart voluntarily are lower than actual deportation, the agency said. According to DHS, the average cost of arresting, detaining someone and deporting them is currently around $17,000.
Trump pledged to deport millions of people in January, but so far he has dragged out deportation under his democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. The Biden administration faced a high level of undocumented immigration and quickly brought many people caught across the border back.
The Trump administration has deported 152,000 people since taking office on January 20th, according to DHS.
Trump’s administration has sought to encourage immigrants and asylum seekers to voluntarily leave by threatening sudden fines, attempting to strip them of their legal status, and attempting to deport people to prisons in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and El Salvador.
Trump previewed the scholarship plan in April, saying the US will consider allowing immigrants and asylum seekers back.
“If they’re good, if we want to get them back, we’re going to work with them and get them back as soon as possible,” he said.
In an announcement Monday, DHS said those who chose to leave may “help maintain” their ability to legally return, but did not cite any particular routes or programs.