Dhs raises voluntary departure incentive to $3,000 for undocumented migrants
WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 2025
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a temporary increase in financial incentives for undocumented migrants who choose to voluntarily leave the United States by the end of 2025. Under the updated program, eligible individuals can now receive $3,000 along with a free flight home if they register through the federal government’s CBP Home app.
The new offer triples the previous $1,000 incentive and is part of what DHS officials describe as a year‑end push to encourage voluntary departures. According to DHS, migrants who complete the process through the app will also receive relief from certain civil fines related to overstaying visas or failing to depart the country on time.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the expanded incentive aims to reduce the high costs associated with arresting, detaining, and removing individuals who remain in the country without legal status. Federal data shows that voluntary departures are significantly less expensive than formal deportation procedures.
Since early 2025, DHS reports that more than 1.9 million migrants have already used the voluntary departure system, with tens of thousands utilizing the CBP Home app to arrange travel and complete the process.
The department emphasized that the increased payment is temporary and applies only to those who register and depart by December 31, 2025.