Trump Unveils Accelerated Deportation Drive With 20,000 More Officers, UN Agreement

The new initiative—called ‘Project Homecoming’—pairs self-deportation incentives with ramped-up enforcement.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection seal patch is seen at Miami International Airport in Miami, Fla., on Feb. 7, 2025. Marco Bello/Reuters

President Donald Trump on May 9 announced the launch of Project Homecoming, a sweeping federal initiative aimed at accelerating the removal of illegal immigrants from the United States through a combination of enhanced enforcement and government-assisted voluntary departures.

The initiative, laid out in a May 9 proclamation, directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to bolster its removal operations by hiring or deputizing at least 20,000 additional officers while offering financial incentives—dubbed an “exit bonus”—to encourage those unlawfully present in the country to leave voluntarily. Illegal immigrants who initiate their own removal using the government’s CBP Home app will be eligible for a $1,000 payment and federally funded travel assistance.

Trump said the program will both preserve taxpayer resources and restore U.S. sovereignty, saying the continued presence of illegal immigrants burdens schools, hospitals, and law enforcement.

“This deportation bonus will save American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars,” Trump said in a video statement.

“Eventually, when the illegals are gone, it will save us trillions.”

The $1,000 self-deportation incentive was previously announced by DHS, which stated that use of the CBP Home app could lower the costs of a deportation by about 70 percent compared to traditional enforcement methods.

Trump warned that illegal immigrants who fail to heed his administration’s call to self-deport will face “severe consequences,” including jail time, wage garnishment, the confiscation of savings and personal property, including homes and vehicles, as well as “sudden deportation, in a place and manner solely of our discretion.”

To further encourage self-deportations, he said individuals who comply may be eligible to return to the United States through legal channels in the future.

“If you’re really good, we’re going to try and help you get back in,” Trump said.

Shortly after the proclamation’s release, an arm of the United Nations that supports various self-deportation programs around the world confirmed that it will assist with self-initiated removals of illegal immigrants in the United States under Trump’s new initiative.

“For decades, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programs in more than 100 countries,” the agency said in a statement. “At the request of the U.S. government, IOM is providing AVR to people in the U.S. who register to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.”

The U.N. agency emphasized that it plays no role in carrying out deportations, noting that its assistance begins only after an individual gives informed consent to leave.

“Our role is to ensure that those who lack the means to return on their own can do so in a safe, dignified, and informed way,” the statement reads.

“This initiative provides support to those who choose to return, helping them make a life-changing decision with care and clarity.”

A DHS spokesperson confirmed the IOM’s involvement in Project Homecoming, describing its role as an “implementing partner” in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

Trump’s proclamation gives federal officials 60 days to begin an “intensive campaign” targeting those who do not voluntarily depart. The expansion of DHS enforcement will include new hires, interagency transfers, and partnerships with state and local law enforcement.