HONDURAS — The first group of migrants who opted for self-deportation from the United States as part of a new Department of Homeland Security initiative landed Monday at Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in Honduras. This initiative offers undocumented immigrants the chance to voluntarily return home with a free flight and a $1,000 stipend to help with resettlement costs.
Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio García confirmed that 38 Hondurans arrived via the flight after applying through the CBP Home app, a mobile platform introduced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to facilitate voluntary departures.
“There was a bit of everything. There were mothers with children. Each one was given $1,000, including the children,” García said during a press briefing at the airport. According to him, up to 19 children arrived on the flight, with some born in the United States and others in Mexico. These children traveled with their Honduran relatives to avoid family separation, a key consideration of the program.
Wilson Paz Reyes, Honduran Migration Director, explained that this initiative is designed to prevent families from being split apart. “The U.S. makes the decision, along with their families, that they return to the country so that family disintegration does not occur,” he said.
How the Self-Deportation Program Works
The Department of Homeland Security announced the program on May 5, 2025, aiming to reduce deportation costs, which currently average more than $17,000 per case. The program allows undocumented immigrants to notify the government of their intent to leave voluntarily via the CBP Home app — formerly known as CBP One, which was previously used to schedule asylum seeker arrivals during the Biden administration.
Migrants who use the app receive a $1,000 stipend after confirming their return home through the platform. They are also deprioritized for detention and forced removal, provided they show meaningful progress in completing their departure.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the program as “Project Homecoming” and encouraged undocumented immigrants to take control of their departure. “If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return,” Noem warned.
Migrants’ Experiences on the First Flight
One of the migrants, Wilson Sáenz, shared that after requesting removal, he was flown to a hotel in Houston, Texas, before being transported to the airport for his flight home. He also received food and basic assistance during the process.
Another migrant, Kevin Posadas, explained that after applying for self-deportation through the app, officials messaged migrants with instructions on when and where to present themselves. Depending on their state, migrants were moved to nearby locations to streamline their departure.
The first flight carried a total of 64 individuals, according to a Homeland Security official. After dropping off migrants in Honduras, the plane was scheduled to continue on to Colombia to transport additional self-deportees.
Broader Context and Future Outlook
The self-deportation initiative is part of a $200 million DHS advertising campaign designed to pressure undocumented migrants to leave the U.S. and deter future unauthorized immigration.
By offering a voluntary, financially supported departure option, the DHS hopes to reduce costly forced removals and minimize family separations.
While the program remains new, officials hope it will create a more humane and efficient pathway for undocumented immigrants to return home on their own terms.
Source Attribution
Information sourced from:
- Department of Homeland Security official announcements
- Reuters report on the first flight
- Statements from Honduran government officials