US Government Pays Undocumented Immigrants to Return Home Voluntarily
64 Migrants Accept Free Flight and Cash Offer Under New ‘Project Homecoming’ Scheme
The United States government has started a new programme called “Project Homecoming” to help undocumented immigrants leave the country willingly. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, 64 people have already accepted this offer and travelled back to their home countries on a government-sponsored flight.
Project Homecoming is part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce illegal immigration. With this programme, immigrants who are living in the US without proper papers can choose to leave on their own. In return, they get a free flight and $1,000 (about ₦1.5 million) to help them start afresh in their home country.
The first flight left Texas and carried 38 people to Honduras and 26 to Colombia. The US government described this as a “voluntary charter flight” and not a forced deportation.
To participate, immigrants can use a special phone application called CBP Home. By registering through the app and agreeing to leave, they can avoid being arrested or punished for staying in the US illegally.
Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, explained the process, saying,
“If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return.”
The US government says this programme is a better and more humane way to handle illegal immigration than arresting and detaining people. Officials believe it saves money and gives migrants a chance to leave with dignity.
However, not everyone is happy with the idea. Some people support Project Homecoming, calling it a “humane alternative” to forced deportations. But immigrant rights groups are worried, describing the programme as “misleading” and saying it may not really help those who want to stay in the US for safety or better opportunities.
President Trump’s other immigration policies have faced several court cases. Recently, the US Supreme Court stopped the government from using an old law to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang crimes. But the court also allowed Trump to end special protections for 350,000 Venezuelans, making it easier for them to be deported.
Project Homecoming is giving undocumented immigrants a new way to leave the US voluntarily. While some see it as a fair chance to go home, others believe it does not address the real problems that force people to migrate in the first place.
As Kristi Noem said, “If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home.”
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