The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially launched its self-deportation initiative—Project Homecoming—with the departure of its first charter flight on Monday. The flight, which left Texas and made stops in Honduras and Colombia, transported 64 individuals who voluntarily agreed to return to their countries of origin under a newly unveiled federal program.
According to DHS, participants in the program were undocumented migrants who opted into voluntary repatriation through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App. In doing so, they became eligible for government-funded travel assistance, a $1,000 stipend, and the possibility of applying to legally re-enter the United States in the future.
In a social media post, DHS highlighted the significance of the operation and shared video footage of the migrants—many of them families—preparing to board the flight in Houston. The footage showed officials offering departing families food, games, and toys for their children in what appeared to be a carefully managed, humane send-off.
The launch of Project Homecoming follows an executive order signed earlier this month by President Donald Trump, establishing the first federally supported self-deportation initiative in U.S. history. The program aims to reduce the financial and logistical burdens of traditional deportation proceedings by incentivizing voluntary departure.
“We are making it as easy as possible for illegal aliens to leave America,” President Trump announced on Truth Social when unveiling the program. “They can book a free flight to any country—just not ours.”
DHS estimates that each self-deportation through the program will cost taxpayers approximately 70% less than conventional enforcement actions. Currently, the agency spends an average of more than $17,000 per individual for arrest, detention, and deportation. In contrast, the $1,000 “exit bonus” and flight cost are a fraction of that total.
“This deportation bonus will save American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars,” Trump stated.
The CBP Home App, a tool initially used during the Biden administration to facilitate scheduled entries at ports of entry, has now been repurposed under the Trump administration to support voluntary departures. DHS officials have emphasized that using the app is the most efficient and secure method for undocumented individuals to arrange their return travel.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem echoed that message in a public post on X, encouraging undocumented migrants to take advantage of the new program.
“If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home,” Noem wrote. “If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation—and you will never be allowed to return. Self-deport now and preserve your opportunity to come back the right way.”
As more flights are expected to follow, Project Homecoming represents a major shift in the federal government’s approach to immigration enforcement, combining a hardline policy stance with a financial incentive designed to encourage compliance.
