Ruben Gallego Challenges Self-Deportation With Bold Work Visa Plan

Key Takeaways

• Gallego’s plan lets undocumented immigrants pay $5,000, pass checks, and get renewable work visas instead of deportation.
• The Trump self-deportation program pays $1,000 and airfare to voluntary leavers, but triggers a 10-year reentry ban.
• Congress proposes major fee hikes for asylum, parole, and work permits, increasing barriers to legal immigration.

Senator Ruben Gallego has a new idea that is getting a lot of attention in the ongoing debate about how the United States 🇺🇸 should deal with undocumented immigrants. His suggestion is straightforward: instead of asking people to leave the country by offering them money, he wants to give them a chance to stay and work legally if they meet certain conditions. This idea stands in sharp contrast to a self-deportation program recently launched by the Trump administration. The difference between these two approaches shows just how divided America is when it comes to immigration policy.

Ruben Gallego’s Work Visa Proposal

Senator Ruben Gallego’s plan is aimed at undocumented immigrants who have been living in the United States 🇺🇸 for some time. Instead of leaving the country, these individuals would be given a choice. They could pay a $5,000 fine, complete a background check, and, if they pass, receive a work visa. This visa would let them stay in the country and work for several years. As long as they continue to follow the rules and demonstrate “good behavior,” their work visa could be renewed in the future.

• Each person would have to cover the cost of their own background check.
• The process would be similar to other applications handled by immigration services.

Gallego made this proposal public through his social media accounts. He pointed out that the $5,000 fine would be a fair compromise, allowing undocumented people to contribute financially while also holding them accountable. His plan is intended as a balanced approach—offering a legal path forward while making sure that people who wish to stay in the country prove they are not a risk.

The Trump Administration’s Self-Deportation Offer

On May 5, 2025, the Trump administration introduced its own program, taking a very different approach. In this plan, undocumented immigrants are offered a $1,000 payment and a free plane ticket if they choose to leave the United States 🇺🇸 voluntarily. The administration calls this “self-deportation” and says it’s a “dignified way” for people to return to their countries of origin.

Participants must use the CBP Home app (formerly called CBP One) to tell authorities they plan to leave. As long as they show they are making progress toward departure, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will deprioritize their cases for arrest or detention.

The main points of the self-deportation program include:

• A $1,000 stipend for each participant
• Free airfare to their home country
• Use of the CBP Home app to start the process
• Lower risk of arrest by ICE if they are following the process

The Trump administration says this approach saves taxpayer money, since detaining and deporting a person costs about $17,121. By comparison, offering the stipend and travel support reduces costs by about 70%. For those who join the program, the government claims, it’s a chance to leave on their own terms, rather than being forced out or arrested.

The Bigger Picture: Immigration Enforcement and Legislative Changes

The self-deportation program is just one part of a much broader immigration crackdown under the second Trump administration. President Trump has set a target of deporting one million immigrants every year. This is more than three times the previous record set in 2019, when 267,000 people were deported. To meet this goal, the administration has rolled out several new policies:

• Expanded expedited removal: Allows for quicker deportation of people who are caught in the country without the proper documents.
• Daily arrest quotas: Sets specific numbers of people that immigration officers are expected to arrest each day.
• More enforcement at sensitive locations: Agents are now allowed to arrest people at sites that were previously protected, such as schools and churches.
• Expanding 287(g) agreements: This program allows local law enforcement officers to help federal agents with immigration arrests.

The Trump administration says these changes are needed to keep the United States 🇺🇸 secure and protect jobs for citizens. As part of this strategy, the self-deportation plan is described as a way for people to leave the country with some dignity and less personal risk.

However, leaving the United States 🇺🇸 as part of this program does not guarantee that people can come back. Immigration lawyers and advocates warn that anyone who has been in the country illegally for more than a year will likely face a 10-year ban on returning, even if they leave through the self-deportation program.

Legislative Actions: New Fees for Legal Immigration

Meanwhile, Congress has been busy debating new laws related to immigration. House Republicans have proposed several bills that would raise the price of applying for many legal immigration services. These changes would hit a variety of groups, including asylum seekers and people applying for or renewing work permits. Here are some of the new fees being discussed:

• $550 every six months to renew work permits for asylum seekers, people suspected of being in the country for humanitarian reasons (parolees), and recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• $1,000 fee to apply for asylum
• $1,000 fee for most immigrants paroled into the United States 🇺🇸
• $3,500 fee for people sponsoring unaccompanied minors
• $100 annual fee for asylum seekers with pending cases

Supporters of these changes say that the additional fees will help cover government costs. Critics argue that these amounts will make it harder for people to get legal status, forcing many to stay in the shadows or risk being deported.

Comparing Ruben Gallego’s Work Visa Plan to Self-Deportation

These two very different plans—Ruben Gallego’s work visa fine and the Trump administration’s self-deportation offer—highlight the sharp divide in American immigration policy. Both acknowledge the fact that there are millions of undocumented immigrants living in the country today. However, one approach focuses on giving people a chance to stay legally if they meet certain requirements, while the other encourages people to leave by offering financial help.

Let’s break down the main differences:

Both approaches are linked to long-standing debates about fairness, security, and the role of immigrants in the workforce.

The Human Side: How Do These Policies Affect Real People?

For many undocumented immigrants, these policy debates are not just about laws—they are about their families, jobs, and futures. The self-deportation plan may seem attractive to some, especially those who want to avoid being arrested or separated from their families. The stipend and free ticket may help them go home safely.

But others see this as a forced choice, since leaving often means not being able to return for a decade. Many immigrants have spent years in the United States 🇺🇸, raising families and working jobs that are hard to fill. For them, leaving is not easy or simple.

Ruben Gallego’s work visa proposal offers another way forward. While it is not a blanket amnesty, it recognizes that many people are already part of American life. It asks them to pay a financial penalty, prove they are following the law, and then let them work openly. This could help keep families together and bring more workers into the legal workforce, helping industries that need more people.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, experts point out that programs offering a legal path forward often bring economic benefits, since immigrants begin paying taxes, buying goods, and participating openly in their communities.

Ongoing Debates: Farm and Hotel Workers

Amid the wider debate, President Trump has shown some openness to letting certain workers come back legally, especially in the farm and hotel industries. At an April Cabinet meeting, he suggested that undocumented workers who left the United States 🇺🇸 could later return with the support of their employers. This idea hints at flexibility, possibly opening a new door for workers in sectors where Americans are not filling open jobs.

But so far, there is no clear program or path for these workers to come back legally. Advocates and lawmakers will likely continue to push for solutions that address these labor needs without forcing people to leave and risk long bans on returning.

The Road Ahead: What Comes Next for Immigration Policy?

Immigration remains one of the most challenging and political topics in the United States 🇺🇸. The sharp contrast between Ruben Gallego’s work visa proposal and the Trump administration’s self-deportation program shows just how hard it is to find common ground.

Supporters of Gallego’s plan argue that a path to legal work helps the economy, keeps families together, and makes it easier for people to follow the law. Those backing the self-deportation idea say the United States 🇺🇸 must enforce its borders and laws, and that people who are in the country illegally should not be rewarded.

No matter what side people are on, it is clear that immigration policies must address three key concerns:

1. Security and rule of law: Making sure the country knows who is coming in and out, and that people follow the rules.
2. Human impact: Understanding that families, workers, and communities are affected by these choices.
3. Economic needs: Many industries rely on workers from other countries, and legal barriers can cause labor shortages.

It is likely that the debate between enforcement and legalization will continue for years to come. Proposed changes to fees, work visas, and programs for farm and hotel workers will all play a part in shaping the lives of millions.

For readers interested in the exact rules and forms related to work visas in the United States 🇺🇸, more information can be found on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

Key Takeaways

• Ruben Gallego proposes a plan for undocumented immigrants to earn work visas by paying a fine and passing checks, offering a path to legal work and possible renewal if rules are followed.
• The Trump administration is offering self-deportation with cash incentives and travel support, aiming to lower deportation costs and offer a “dignified way” to leave, but leaving triggers a 10-year reentry ban for many.
• Congress is also considering large fee hikes for people trying to become legal, adding more pressure and barriers for those seeking a future in the United States 🇺🇸.
• The debate touches on tough questions—security, economics, and family ties—that will keep immigration front and center for years.

As lawmakers debate these different paths, the people most affected continue to hope for policies that balance law, compassion, and common sense. Whatever changes come, the intersection of work visa options, self-deportation choices, and economic needs will remain central to the future of U.S. immigration policy.

Learn Today

Self-Deportation → A policy encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the U.S., often incentivized through cash and travel support from the government.
Background Check → A review of an individual’s criminal, immigration, and personal history to determine eligibility for legal status or immigration benefits.
Expedited Removal → A process in which immigration officers can quickly deport people found in the U.S. without proper papers, bypassing immigration court.
Parolee → An immigrant allowed temporary entry or stay in the U.S. for urgent humanitarian or public benefit reasons, without full legal status.
287(g) Agreements → Contracts allowing local law enforcement to assist federal immigration authorities in identifying and detaining undocumented immigrants.

This Article in a Nutshell

Debate over U.S. immigration intensifies as Senator Gallego proposes a work visa, fine, and background check path for undocumented immigrants, contrasting with the Trump self-deportation plan offering cash for leaving. Rising legal immigration fees add pressure, underscoring America’s challenges in balancing security, family unity, and economic needs through new policies.
— By VisaVerge.com

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