The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted its first voluntary charter flight for migrants who agreed to ‘self-deport’ for a $1,000 stipend.
The flight, which departed from Houston, took 64 migrants from Colombia and Honduras to their home countries.
“This was a voluntary charter flight, not an ICE enforcement operation. 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,” DHS stated in a press release.
WATCH:
The DHS has conducted the first deportation flight for illegals who opted to self-deport through their Project Homecoming program.
Participants received travel and financial assistance as well as preserving the possibility to return to the US LEGALLY in the future.
IF YOU’RE… pic.twitter.com/iyEvHmiSgl
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 19, 2025
The Hill reports:
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.
ADVERTISEMENTStill, 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.
DHS conducts first chartered flight for illegal migrants agreeing to self-deport for $1,000 https://t.co/XsXnv5yihP
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) May 19, 2025
Per CNN:
A group of 38 Hondurans arrived at Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport on Monday afternoon after applying through a mobile app provided by US Customs and Border Protection, Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio García said.
“There was a bit of everything. There were mothers with children. Each one was given $1,000, including the children,” García told reporters at the airport, saying that up to 19 children had arrived.
At least four of the children were born in the US and one was born in Mexico. They left the US with their Honduran relatives to avoid family separation, according to Honduran Migration Director Wilson Paz Reyes.
“In this case, the US makes the decision, along with their families, that they return to the country so that family disintegration does not occur,” he said.
One of those deported, Wilson Sáenz, said that after he requested to be removed, authorities flew him to a hotel in Houston, Texas, and from there, he was dropped off at an airport and provided food before his flight home.
Source link