A total of 68 migrants from Honduras and Colombia were repatriated on Monday from Texas as part of a recent initiative by the Trump administration aimed at addressing irregular migration. This effort is being promoted under the umbrella of what officials are calling “voluntary deportations.”
Details of the voluntary deportation program
In a move to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the United States voluntarily, the US government introduced a monetary incentive earlier this month. Eligible individuals were offered $1,000 (€889) to facilitate their return to their home countries. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that this marked the initiation of the “Project Homecoming.”
Noem clarified that this initiative is distinct from the regular operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), emphasizing that it is a voluntary and supportive process for those choosing to depart. In a communication via her X account, she urged individuals residing unlawfully in the country:
“If you are in this country illegally, deport yourself NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal and correct way.”
She further warned, “If you don’t, you will be subject to fines, arrest, deportation and never be allowed to return.” Participants in this program utilized the CBP Home application to arrange their departures, ensuring they received the promised financial assistance to aid their return journey.
Support upon arrival in home countries
Upon their arrival in Honduras and Colombia, the repatriated migrants were greeted with various forms of local support. Those returning to Honduras were also enrolled in the ‘Hermano, Hermana, Vuelve a Casa’ program, which offers a $100 voucher (€89) for adults, providing essential food aid and job orientation services.
Colombian returnees were assisted by the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF) and the Department for Social Prosperity (DPS), organizations responsible for promoting the social and economic reintegration of individuals returning from abroad. This voluntary deportation initiative is part of a broader strategy implemented by the Trump administration since the commencement of his second term in January, which aims to significantly decrease irregular immigration into the United States.
Coupled with voluntary departures, the administration has been conducting high-profile detentions within the US, including the transfer of several hundred Venezuelan migrants to a maximum security prison in El Salvador, further emphasizing the administration’s stringent stance on immigration.