Key Takeaways
• First Project Homecoming flight left Houston May 19, 2025, with 64-65 Honduran and Colombian voluntary participants.
• Participants receive free flights home and a $1,000 stipend upon confirmed return via the CBP Home app.
• Self-deportation program claims to cut government enforcement costs by up to 70% per participant.
The first dedicated self-deportation charter flight under President Trump’s administration left Houston on Monday, May 19, 2025. This marked a notable step in the government’s new approach to handling unauthorized immigrants through a program known as Project Homecoming. Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed the flight carried either 64 or 65 passengers—while most reports mention 65 people from Honduras and Colombia, one report counted 64. All participants on this flight chose to leave the United States voluntarily.
Let’s break down what this means for those involved and the broader public.
Launch of Project Homecoming
Project Homecoming began under Presidential Proclamation 10935, signed by President Trump on May 9, 2025. The self-deportation program was first announced in March 2025, but this flight out of Houston was the first true chartered trip set up specifically to help people leave as part of this new project. According to the Department of Homeland Security, passengers received a free trip to their home country plus a $1,000 stipend—money given only after their return is confirmed through the CBP Home app, a new digital tool supporting the program.
Previously, a few individuals had their government-paid flights on regular commercial airlines, but those were not organized as part of a group process or as a formal government flight. Monday’s event was different because the program ran its first full flight with only people using the self-deportation arrangement.
How the Self-Deportation Program Works
If you are an unauthorized immigrant thinking about using this program, here’s what the government says you need to do:
- You must access the CBP Home app, an official mobile platform supported by Customs and Border Protection.
– Submit your “Intent to Depart” through the app, signaling that you want to leave the United States on your own. - Make a specific request to be sent back to your country.
Once these steps are complete, and if your information matches government records, you may be approved for the next available flight out. The program promises not only to cover your flight but also to pay the $1,000 stipend after your return is recorded in the system via the CBP Home app.
The Department of Homeland Security says this is a “dignified way” for people to leave. It aims to reduce stressful or possibly dangerous encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In a public message, Secretary Kristi Noem described this as the “safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers.” Supporters claim this approach is more humane and practical for both immigrants and government staff.
Why the Government Is Pushing Self-Deportation
According to immigration officials, the average cost of arresting, holding, and removing an unauthorized immigrant is around $17,121 per person. By inviting people to self-deport through Project Homecoming and handling things digitally through the CBP Home app, the administration projects a 70% drop in costs—even with the $1,000 stipend included.
Here’s what this means in simple numbers:
– Traditional enforcement costs about $17,121 per person.
– With the app and the new voluntary return method (plus the stipend), the government expects to pay only about 30% of this cost, or roughly $5,100 each.
This program is part of a larger approach by President Trump’s team. They want both to cut government spending and convince more unauthorized immigrants to leave the country willingly, rather than waiting for possible arrest and formal deportation—a process that can be expensive, stressful, and drawn out.
What Happens If Someone Chooses Not to Self-Deport?
The government is clear about its policy: those who do not use the self-deportation pathway may face tough enforcement steps. President Trump’s administration warns that individuals who overstay may be held for months in crowded detention centers. If someone is caught overstaying, the rules say they may be arrested on the spot. Daily fines are also in place—people can be charged $998 each day after their visa or status runs out. Beyond that, there is the risk of criminal charges, possible jail time, and a “lifetime ban” which completely stops them from re-entering the United States in the future.
Officials say that these tough consequences are partly meant to get more people to use the self-deportation route, which the administration sees as better for both immigrants and the U.S. taxpayer.
What Are Critics Saying?
Not everyone agrees that Project Homecoming and the self-deportation approach are the right way forward. Kerri Talbot, the executive director of Immigration Hub, called it “a scam because most people won’t be allowed back into the U.S.” She said that current laws block many who leave the U.S. after being here without permission from returning legally later. This is a serious concern for many, especially people who hope to come back in the future for work, family, or safety reasons.
The Department of Homeland Security, however, argues the opposite. They say that by participating in self-deportation and leaving on good terms, “an illegal alien may help preserve the option for … re-entering the United States legally in the future.” In other words, those who use Project Homecoming might have a better chance to fix their status someday.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the new program is causing strong debate among experts and affected families. Many want more clarity about what “leaving on good terms” really means, and whether this approach gives people a real shot at starting over if their circumstances change.
Historical Background and the Political Climate
The idea of self-deportation is not new. Over the years, U.S. administrations have looked at different ways to encourage people to leave on their own instead of waiting for government removal. Still, Project Homecoming is notable for offering real financial help—a free flight and cash on arrival—just for signing up and leaving.
What is new is the use of technology. By requiring everything to happen through the CBP Home app, the government says they make the process faster, more private, and less stressful for all involved. This direct online reporting also saves time and money on government processing and paperwork.
This current policy grew out of months of public debate over high numbers of unauthorized immigrants in the United States. The Trump administration says stricter enforcement, combined with “dignified departure options,” lets the government reclaim control while offering people a clear choice: leave by choice, or face tough penalties.
How Does the App Work?
The CBP Home app is key to the program. Here’s what participants must do:
1. Create an account to verify their identity.
2. Complete and submit the “Intent to Depart” form, including personal and travel details.
3. Wait for confirmation.
4. Once approved, get a flight booking and travel instructions.
5. Use the app upon entering their home country to confirm their arrival.
6. Once arrival is confirmed, receive instructions on how to collect the $1,000 stipend.
This digital system is meant to track departures and prevent fraud or mistakes. It also lets the Department of Homeland Security follow up if problems happen.
For people who are thinking about self-deportation, the CBP Home app and Project Homecoming information are available directly on the official Department of Homeland Security website.
Different Viewpoints on the Program
Depending on whom you ask, Project Homecoming signals a new way of thinking—or else, a dangerous move.
Supporters, including Department of Homeland Security officials and the Trump administration, argue:
– Self-deportation is safe and orderly.
– The voluntary approach lowers government costs and risk to law enforcement.
– It helps people leave “with dignity,” not in handcuffs or after long waits in unsafe detention centers.
– The program can help with overcrowding in jails and government facilities, which has been a huge problem.
– Offering money covers travel costs and gives people a small start in their home countries, possibly encouraging more to volunteer.
Critics, including immigrant advocacy groups and some legal experts, say:
– For many, “choosing” to self-deport is not really a choice; it is a result of strong pressure or threats of harsh penalties.
– The $1,000 stipend is not enough compensation for the risks or problems people may face if forced to start over in their original countries—where some may have little support, job prospects, or safety.
– Most people who leave under this program may actually block themselves from ever returning, even for family emergencies or job offers, due to tough reentry bans in U.S. law.
– Some worry the app and associated tracking raise privacy questions, such as who sees the data and how it is used.
What’s Next for Project Homecoming?
With the first passenger flight now complete, the government says future flights will be scheduled depending on how many people sign up through the CBP Home app. If demand increases, authorities may arrange more regular charters to countries with high numbers of participants.
The Department of Homeland Security is watching participation to measure if the program is meeting its goal of lower costs, safer outcomes, and fewer forced removals. Officials say they are open to adjustments based on feedback.
Those still living in the United States without the right paperwork or legal status face a big decision. Should they take part in Project Homecoming, or risk fines, arrest, and long-term consequences for staying? Each person’s situation—work, family, fear of danger back home—will shape their decision.
Broader Impacts for Immigrants, Families, and Government
- For immigrants: The choice between self-deportation and possible detention is life-changing. The offer of a direct flight and some cash may help ease the shock, but families must also think about their future, their ability to return someday, and their loved ones in the United States.
- For government: Lowering costs and reducing jail crowding are major selling points. Officials want to show that Project Homecoming saves public funds, while also freeing resources to focus on people with criminal cases or serious immigration violations.
- For legal advocates and critics: The program is just one piece of a much larger debate over U.S. immigration laws, fairness, and how best to handle millions of unauthorized residents already in the country.
Key Points to Remember
- The first flight of Project Homecoming left Houston in May 2025 with 64 or 65 passengers from Honduras 🇭🇳 and Colombia 🇨🇴, all choosing self-deportation.
- Participants get a free flight and a $1,000 cash offer after confirming return through the CBP Home app.
- Self-deportation aims to cut government costs by up to 70% compared to standard arrest and removal processes.
- Critics worry about long-term banning from the United States and limited choices for participants.
- The program relies on digital tracking to ensure honest departures and quick payments.
For more official instructions, forms, and news updates about voluntary self-deportation and Project Homecoming, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
As the project continues, all eyes will be on how many choose to participate, what happens to those who refuse, and the effects on families, communities, and the immigration system as a whole. This is a developing chapter in the American story about who can stay, who must go, and what “leaving with dignity” really means for those caught in the middle.
Learn Today
Project Homecoming → A government initiative enabling unauthorized immigrants to voluntarily return home with free flights and financial incentives.
Self-deportation → The voluntary departure of immigrants from a country, without formal arrest or deportation proceedings by authorities.
CBP Home app → An official digital tool from Customs and Border Protection to manage and confirm voluntary departures.
Stipend → A $1,000 government payment given after successful return and confirmation through the self-deportation program.
Presidential Proclamation 10935 → The executive order signed by President Trump that officially launched Project Homecoming in May 2025.
This Article in a Nutshell
Project Homecoming’s historic flight marks a shift in U.S. immigration control, offering unauthorized immigrants voluntary return with financial incentives. The self-deportation program grants participants free flights and a $1,000 stipend, aiming to reduce costs by 70% and avoid detention. Critics warn of potential permanent reentry bans and fairness concerns.
— By VisaVerge.com
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