In a notable shift in immigration enforcement strategy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) completed its first charter flight for undocumented migrants who voluntarily agreed to leave the country, offering each participant a $1,000 stipend and assistance in returning home. The initiative is part of a new "self-deportation" program launched earlier this month by the Trump administration.
The flight, which departed from the United States on Monday, carried 64 citizens from Colombia and Honduras back to their home countries. In a press release, DHS clarified that the flight was not part of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removal operation, but rather a voluntary departure arrangement.
“This was a voluntary charter flight, not an ICE enforcement operation,” DHS stated. “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 program, first announced earlier this month, is aimed at reducing the population of undocumented migrants in the U.S. without relying on enforcement actions such as detentions and deportations. Migrants who opt in are given about three weeks to settle personal matters before leaving.
The initiative builds on technology originally developed during the Biden administration. The CBP Home App is a redesign of the CBP One app, which was used to schedule asylum appointments at official U.S. ports of entry. Now repurposed under the Trump administration, the updated app facilitates voluntary departures by streamlining registration and organizing departure logistics.
While DHS framed the move as a humane and orderly approach to immigration enforcement, critics voiced concerns about potential legal and human consequences for those participating.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) issued a strong warning: “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.”
AILA argued that individuals may not be fully aware of the long-term implications of self-deportation. In many cases, leaving voluntarily after a period of unlawful presence in the U.S. can trigger multi-year reentry bans under federal immigration law.
“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,” the group added.
Despite the warnings, DHS showcased the operation as a compassionate and efficient alternative. Photos released by the agency showed smiling returnees disembarking from aircrafts, with children receiving stuffed animals from representatives of their home country governments. In Honduras, returnees were also eligible for $100 in local government assistance and food vouchers.
“These individuals chose to return home the right way,” DHS said in its Monday release. The agency emphasized that the program gives participants a cleaner legal slate, allowing them to potentially pursue legal U.S. entry in the future—an opportunity often unavailable to those forcibly removed.
Still, immigration advocates worry that without clear legal guidance, migrants might unwittingly trade immediate financial relief for long-term legal barriers.
The pilot flight marks the beginning of what could become a larger trend in U.S. immigration policy—one focused not on detention and forced removal, but incentivized compliance. Whether this model proves effective or ethically sound remains to be seen as legal experts, advocacy groups, and migrant communities respond to its rollout in the weeks ahead.
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