- Project Homecoming has facilitated over 132,000 immigrant departures by July twenty-ninth, twenty twenty-six via federal incentives.
- The program offers 2,600 dollars per person to leave permanently while saving billions in enforcement costs.
- The DHS uses the CBP Home app to vet participants and coordinate government-funded flights nationwide.
The Department of Homeland Security has expanded Project Homecoming nationwide, saying about 132,000 immigrants had departed the United States through the program by July 16, 2026, while another 70,000 people remain enrolled.
The initiative uses the CBP Home app to register departures, conduct vetting and arrange government-funded flights. Participants who pass screening are temporarily deprioritized for ICE arrest or detention, giving them time to settle affairs before leaving.
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The administration expects departures to pass 200,000 shortly. It has also raised the cash payment for people who agree to leave permanently from $1,000 to $2,600 per person.
A DHS spokesperson said Wednesday that the program had exceeded expectations and projected about $2.5 billion in savings on removal costs. The department estimates each departure costs roughly $2,500, including the stipend, compared with an average $18,245 cost for a traditional forced deportation.
"Thanks to the overwhelming success of Project Homecoming under President Trump, the CBP Home app has achieved far greater efficiency and participation than originally anticipated. The department projects approximately $2.5 billion in savings on removal costs because of the program."
The spokesperson supplied the statement on July 29. The program initially focused on people arriving at the border. Staff now operate inside ICE detention centers and in communities across the U.S. to recruit participants.
The offer comes with a faster enforcement track
The administration has paired the payment with a tougher enforcement message. DHS announced July 23 that it had issued more than $84 billion in civil fines to people who refused to leave. Those fines can reach $998 per day after a final order of removal.
Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said July 23 that the department was accelerating removals of people it described as criminal illegal aliens.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, DHS is working faster than ever before to remove criminal illegal aliens from our country. Our message to illegal aliens is clear: Leave.”
A separate asylum policy change adds pressure. On July 27, DHS adopted a rule allowing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to send asylum applicants directly to immigration court without an initial interview.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the change would redirect agency resources toward faster decisions on protection claims.
“For far too long the asylum system has been exploited for purposes of delay and work authorization, not legitimate claims of protection. this rule will help ensure that resources are directed to the timely adjudication of those claims instead of to those seeking to use the system as a loophole.”
The new referral process can move some cases toward removal proceedings more quickly. People facing that prospect may consider the departure package instead of waiting for a forced removal, depending on their individual circumstances.
Applicants trade information for travel assistance
The app asks users to register their intent to depart and complete government vetting. The process includes extensive biographical information and biometrics through Form G-325R.
The government provides flights and assistance obtaining travel documents for people who lack valid papers. Participants who leave within the agreed timeframe may avoid the standard 10-year reentry ban associated with formal deportation, although the immigration consequences depend on the person’s history and departure circumstances.
Legal advocates warn that information submitted during registration could later support enforcement action or affect a future visa application. Registration therefore does not erase prior immigration violations or guarantee future admission.
The department says the numbers will keep rising
The department’s July figures show the program operating through several channels at once: the mobile portal, detention facilities and interior outreach. Government-funded transportation removes one logistical barrier, while the payment gives applicants a direct financial incentive to depart permanently.
The cost comparison drives the administration’s savings projection. A departure costing approximately $2,500, plus the stipend, remains far below the stated $18,245 average for forced deportation. DHS calculated the difference across the departures it attributes to the initiative.
The program’s next stated benchmark is more than 200,000 departures. At the same time, 70,000 enrolled participants remain in the pipeline, creating a potential second wave of departures after vetting and scheduling.
The combination of temporary arrest deprioritization, asylum referrals, civil fines and travel assistance leaves participants weighing immediate departure against continued proceedings. Each person’s eligibility, immigration history and future visa prospects require separate legal analysis.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
