What You Need to Know About President Trump’s New “Project Homecoming” Executive Order Incentivizing Self-Deportation

On Friday May 9, 2025, President Trump signed executive order “Establishing Project Homecoming,”a new White House initiative aimed at encouraging the voluntary departure of undocumented immigrants from the United States.

This new policy offers financial incentives and logistical support to those who facilitate self-deportation, with the stated goal of reducing the fiscal and social burdens associated with deportation to prioritize funding for Americans in need.

Key Provisions of Project Homecoming:

Free Government-Funded Flights:Undocumented immigrants are offered complimentary flights to any country willing to accept them, excluding the United States.This service is accessible through the government’s new “CBP Home” mobile application and at participating airport
$1,000 Exit Bonus: Individuals who voluntarily and permanently depart the U.S. under this program are allegedly eligible to receive a $1,000 “exit bonus” upon successful relocation.
Concierge Travel Assistance: A government-provided concierge service is available at airports to assist individuals, even those lacking valid travel documents from their home countries, in booking flights and navigating the voluntary departure process.

Enforcement Measures: The executive order mandates the deputization of state and local law enforcement, as well as former federal officers, to participate in a nationwide deportation initiative targeting those who do not voluntarily leave the United States. This enforcement campaign is scheduled to commence within 60 days of the order’s signing—July 8, 2025, and is expected to increase enforcement and removal operations nationally.

Public Awareness Campaign: The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security are directed to launch a comprehensive communications campaign to inform undocumented immigrants about the program’s benefits and the consequences of non-compliance, which reportedly include fines, incarceration, and forced deportation.

The administration estimates that illegal immigration cost U.S. taxpayers over $150 billion in 2023. Project Homecoming is presented as a cost-saving measure intended to alleviate this financial burden and reallocate resources to American citizens. President Trump characterized the initiative as a means to restore national sovereignty and uphold the rule of law.

Yet, what lies beneath the executive order is considerably more grim. Undocumented immigrants should be aware that self-deportation may have significant legal consequences. Therefore, this decision should be approached with great caution and only made after receiving careful guidance from an immigration attorney on the associated risks and consequences.

Further, this order’s emphasis on expedited removal and increased coordination with local law enforcement, raises concerns about due process and equal protection under the Constitution.

Immigration advocates anticipate that this order will likely face legal challenges in federal court.

As a result, immigrants without lawful status are strongly advised to seek legal counsel before taking any action, staying informed through immigration attorneys, and avoiding interactions that could expose them to immigration enforcement.

For more details, please read the full executive order here.

White House Factsheet.

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