Key Takeaways
• Since April 2025, DOJ distributes flyers urging migrants to self-deport with $1,000 incentive and travel subsidies.
• Flyers appear in courts, mail, hearings, and electronic records, targeting all migrants in removal proceedings.
• Legal experts warn flyers mislead migrants, risking rights loss and undermining due process in immigration courts.
Migrants in immigration courtrooms across the United States 🇺🇸 are now facing a new and controversial push from the U.S. Department of Justice: flyers urging them to “self-deport.” Since April 2025, these flyers have appeared in court lobbies, been handed out during hearings, included with official court documents, and even uploaded into electronic court records. The campaign, part of a broader Trump administration policy, has sparked strong reactions from legal experts, advocacy groups, and migrants themselves.
This article explains what’s happening, why it matters, and what it means for people caught up in the immigration system. We’ll look at the details of the flyer campaign, the official reasoning behind it, the concerns raised by lawyers and advocates, and what migrants should know before making any decisions about self-deportation.
What’s Happening: Flyers in Immigration Courtrooms
Since at least April 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), through its Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), has been distributing flyers in immigration courtrooms across the country. These flyers, titled “Message to Illegal Aliens: A Warning to Self Deport,” are printed in both English and Spanish. They outline what the government claims are “benefits” of self-deportation, such as:
- Leaving the United States 🇺🇸 “on your own terms”
- Keeping any money you’ve earned
- Receiving subsidized travel to your home country
- Getting a $1,000 incentive for those who comply
But the flyers also warn of severe consequences for those who do not leave after a final order of removal. These include:
- Daily fines of up to $1,000
- Jail time
- “Immediate deportation” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The flyers promote the use of the CBP Home mobile app as a “safe” way to self-deport and threaten fines of $998 per day for those who remain after a final order of removal. There are also threats of fines between $1,000 and $5,000 for failing to self-deport after claiming an intent to do so.
How Are the Flyers Distributed?
The flyers are being distributed in several ways:
- Posted in court lobbies and waiting areas
- Handed out during immigration hearings
- Included with scheduling and grant orders
- Mailed with Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) packages
- Uploaded into the official electronic record (eROP via ECAS)
This means that almost anyone involved in immigration court proceedings could receive one, regardless of their case status.
Why Is This Happening? The Policy Behind the Flyers
The flyer campaign is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to encourage voluntary departures and reduce the massive backlog in immigration courts. As of July 2025, there are over 3.6 million cases pending in immigration courtrooms, including about 2 million asylum applications.
The DOJ and EOIR, which manage the immigration courts, are leading the campaign. Immigration judges—who are DOJ employees—have been instructed to distribute these flyers, sometimes even to people who have already won their cases or are not subject to removal.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also launched nationwide and international ad campaigns promoting self-deportation. The CBP Home app is being marketed as the official way to arrange voluntary departure. According to reports, the administration has repurposed $250 million originally meant for refugee aid to fund the $1,000 stipend and related costs for self-deportation.
What Do the Flyers Actually Say?
The flyers are direct and, according to many, intimidating. They tell migrants that self-deportation is the best way to avoid harsh penalties. The main points include:
- Incentives: Leave on your own and get a $1,000 payment, keep your earnings, and receive subsidized travel.
- Threats: Stay after a removal order and face daily fines, jail, and immediate deportation.
- Instructions: Use the CBP Home app or contact DHS to arrange your departure.
Who Is Affected?
The flyers target all migrants in removal proceedings. This includes:
- People currently fighting their cases in immigration courtrooms
- Some individuals who have already been granted relief or won their cases
- Migrants who may not have legal representation
Because the flyers are being distributed so widely, even those who are not actually required to leave may receive them, causing confusion and fear.
Official Statements and Stakeholder Reactions
Secretary Kristi Noem (DHS): Secretary Noem has publicly encouraged self-deportation, promising “financial support” for those who comply and warning of fines, arrest, and deportation for those who do not.
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): AILA strongly opposes the flyers, calling them “deceptive” and “misleading.” The group says the campaign violates due process and judicial neutrality. AILA has sent formal letters to EOIR demanding a stop to the campaign and is tracking flyer distribution nationwide.
Immigration Attorneys and Advocates: Many lawyers and advocates report that the flyers are often handed out to unrepresented migrants, including those with valid claims or who have already been granted relief. This, they say, risks confusion and the loss of important legal rights.
Nonprofit Legal Organizations: These groups are worried that the flyers are replacing previous materials that explained migrants’ legal rights. The administration has also cut funding for legal services and education programs for immigrants in detention, making it even harder for people to get accurate information.
Practical Implications for Migrants
Migrants who receive these flyers face several important risks and challenges:
Legal Risks: Accepting the self-deportation offer can have serious, long-term consequences. These may include:
- Triggering bars to reentry (being banned from returning to the United States 🇺🇸 for years)
- Giving up the right to appeal or seek relief from removal
- No legal guarantee that the $1,000 stipend will actually be paid
- The government can still proceed with removal even after someone signs up for self-deportation
Due Process Concerns: Many experts say the flyers undermine the fairness of immigration courts. Migrants may feel pressured to leave without fully understanding their rights or options.
Access to Counsel: Many migrants receive these flyers without having a lawyer. This increases the risk of making uninformed or forced decisions that could harm their future.
Procedural Steps: The flyers direct migrants to use the CBP Home app or contact DHS to arrange departure. However, legal experts warn that this process is not clearly set out in law and may not protect people from enforcement actions or future problems entering the United States 🇺🇸.
Expert Analysis and Multiple Perspectives
Legal Community: Most lawyers and legal groups condemn the flyer campaign. They say it is unethical, legally inaccurate, and misleads vulnerable people. Many believe it erodes the integrity of the immigration court system.
Administration’s Rationale: The Trump administration argues that self-deportation will reduce the court backlog and save resources. Critics respond that this approach skips due process and targets people who may have strong legal claims to stay.
Impact on the Court System: The campaign is seen as part of a larger trend of politicizing immigration courts, which are under the direct control of the Attorney General and not an independent judiciary.
Background: How Immigration Courts Work
U.S. immigration courts are not part of the regular judicial branch. Instead, they are run by the DOJ, making them more open to influence from the executive branch and subject to policy changes. While voluntary departure has always been a legal option, the current campaign is unique in its size, the use of incentives, and the aggressive way it is being promoted through official court channels.
Historical Context: Self-Deportation in the Past
Voluntary departure has existed for many years as a legal option for migrants facing removal. In the past, it was usually offered as a way to avoid a formal removal order, which can carry harsh penalties for reentry. However, the current campaign is unprecedented in its scope and the way it is being pushed in immigration courtrooms.
Future Outlook and Pending Developments
Legal Challenges: Nonprofits and legal organizations are challenging both the flyer campaign and recent cuts to legal services in court. As of July 2025, the flyers are still being used while these legal battles continue.
Congressional Oversight: AILA and other advocacy groups are urging Congress to investigate the actions of EOIR and restore fairness and due process in immigration courts.
Potential Policy Changes: There is no official sign that the administration plans to stop the flyer campaign. In fact, further expansion of the CBP Home app and related incentives is possible.
What Should Migrants and Advocates Do?
- Do not act on self-deportation flyers without consulting an immigration attorney.
- Be aware that accepting incentives or using the CBP Home app may have irreversible legal consequences.
- Monitor updates from AILA, EOIR, and DHS for changes in policy or procedure.
If you need legal help, contact a reputable immigration attorney or a nonprofit legal aid organization. Many organizations offer free or low-cost consultations, though funding for these services has recently been cut.
Summary Table: Key Features of the 2025 Self-Deport Flyer Campaign
| Feature | Details (as of July 7, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Nationwide, in immigration courts, by mail, email, and with court documents |
| Flyer Content | “Benefits” of self-deportation, threats of fines/jail, $1,000 incentive, CBP Home app promo |
| Target Audience | All migrants in removal proceedings, including some with granted relief |
| Legal Status | No statutory basis for stipend; voluntary departure remains a legal option |
| Administration’s Position | Encourages self-deportation to reduce court backlog and costs |
| Legal Community’s Position | Deceptive, undermines due process, risks wrongful removal |
| Recent Changes | Cuts to legal services, increased ICE enforcement, new ad campaigns |
| Future Outlook | Ongoing legal challenges, calls for Congressional oversight |
Where to Find Official Information
For official information or to report concerns, visit the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) website. For details on voluntary departure or the CBP Home app, refer to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) also provides updates, legal alerts, and advocacy resources for affected individuals and attorneys.
Key Takeaways for Migrants
- Never make a decision about self-deportation based only on a flyer.
- Always talk to a licensed immigration attorney before taking any action.
- Understand that accepting the offer to self-deport could mean giving up important rights and may affect your ability to return to the United States 🇺🇸 in the future.
- Be cautious about promises of financial incentives, as there is no legal guarantee these will be honored.
- Stay informed by checking updates from trusted sources like AILA, EOIR, and DHS.
Conclusion
The distribution of self-deport flyers in immigration courtrooms marks a major shift in U.S. immigration policy. While the Trump administration says the campaign will help reduce court backlogs and save money, many legal experts and advocates warn that it puts vulnerable migrants at risk of losing their rights and being removed from the country without fair process. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the situation remains fluid, with ongoing legal challenges and calls for Congressional oversight. Migrants and their advocates should stay alert, seek legal advice, and rely on official sources for the latest information.
For more details on immigration court procedures and your rights, visit the EOIR official website.
Learn Today
Self-Deportation → Voluntary departure from the U.S. to avoid formal removal proceedings and penalties.
Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) → DOJ office managing immigration court cases and policies.
Voluntary Departure → Legal option allowing migrants to leave the U.S. without formal deportation.
CBP Home App → Mobile app promoted for arranging self-deportation and voluntary departure.
Due Process → Legal principle ensuring fair treatment and rights in judicial proceedings.
This Article in a Nutshell
In 2025, U.S. immigration courts distribute flyers pushing self-deportation with financial incentives. This controversial policy sparks legal concerns about migrants losing rights and due process amid court backlogs and funding cuts.
— By VisaVerge.com
