US offers $2,500 incentive for migrants to return to their home countries

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reportedly developing a new program that would offer unaccompanied migrant teenagers a $2,500 incentive to voluntarily return to their countries of origin, according to a CNN report citing an internal administration memo.

Under the proposed initiative, the pilot phase would target 17-year-old migrants, with each case requiring approval from an immigration judge. The payment described as a “reintegration stipend” would be disbursed after the minor’s arrival in their home country to help them resettle.

Officials say the measure aims to reduce long-term detention costs and encourage voluntary returns. The plan mirrors an existing Trump-era program that offers $1,000 “exit bonuses” to undocumented adults who opt for self-deportation, a move the government has defended as a more cost-effective and humane approach than forced deportation.

An ICE spokesperson emphasized that the new program would be entirely voluntary, adding that it is designed to allow minors “to make an informed decision about their future.” As of October 2, about 2,100 unaccompanied children were in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

However, immigrant rights advocates have condemned the plan, warning that financial incentives could pressure vulnerable youths into returning to unsafe or unstable conditions.

“There is no legitimate reason for the government to incentivize voluntary departure with a financial payoff,” said Neha Desai of the National Center for Youth Law.

Critics argue that the initiative undermines long-standing U.S. protections for migrant children, potentially reigniting debates over the ethics of the country’s immigration and deportation practices.

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