The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has conducted its first charter flight for migrants who agreed to “self-deport” after starting a program to give those voluntarily leaving the country a $1,000 stipend.
The flight took 64 citizens of Colombia and Honduras to their home country.
“This was a voluntary charter flight, not an ICE enforcement operation,” DHS said in a press release, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“All participants were offered the same benefits as any illegal alien who self-deports using the CBP Home App. They received travel assistance, a $1,000 stipend, and preserved the possibility they could one day return to the United States legally.”
The Trump administration earlier this month announced they would begin offering travel assistance as well as the stipend for those registering to self-deport through the CBP Home App. They said migrants would typically be given about three weeks to organize their affairs before departing the country.
The CBP Home app is a redesign of the Biden administration’s CBP One app, which allowed migrants to make an appointment at a port of entry for those seeking to make an initial claim of asylum.
Still, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) cautioned people against taking the assistance, noting that some may not be able to return to the U.S. in the future.
“AILA cautions individuals when reviewing the announcement to understand it is deceptive and gives people the impression there are no consequences, such as being barred from returning in the future. No one should accept this without first obtaining good legal advice from an immigration attorney or other qualified representative,” the group said when the move was first announced.
“It is unethical for the government to tell people ‘Self-Deportation Is Safe’ but not explain the hardship and legal risks to them, especially for people who do not have an attorney and will not know their rights under the law.”
DHS on Monday said those in the group “chose to return home the right way,” and in contrast with other media distributed by the agency, showed photos of smiling migrants descending from planes, welcomed by host country governments waiting with stuffed animals for children.
They noted that in Honduras, returnees were also eligible for $100 in government assistance as well as food vouchers.
