DHS Launches Self-Deportation Flights from Houston with Migrants Receiving Financial Incentives

• Houston: Self-Deportation Charter Flights Begin
• Migrants Receive $1,000 to Return
• “Project Homecoming” Takes Off

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched charter flights from Houston to repatriate undocumented migrants who choose to self-deport as part of the new Project Homecoming initiative.

On Monday, flights departed for Honduras and Colombia carrying 64 individuals, including families, small children, and infants, according to DHS.

The agency shared images of children receiving stuffed animals before boarding, noting that “they preserved the opportunity to one day return to the U.S. legally.”

Migrants who chose to self-deport received a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance—new incentives announced earlier in May for those opting to return voluntarily.

Houston: First City to Launch DHS Self-Deportation Flights

Today, DHS conducted the first Project Homecoming charter flight from Houston, TX, to Honduras and Colombia, bringing 64 participants who opted to self-deport back to their home countries.
All participants were offered the same benefits as any illegal alien who self-deports… pic.twitter.com/r0uafejuvh
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 19, 2025

“The DHS is now offering financial travel assistance and a stipend to undocumented immigrants who return to their home country using the CBP Home app,” the agency stated.

Although these flights are separate from those arranged through the CBP Home app, individuals who use the app are also eligible for economic support.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has been actively promoting this pathway and stated firmly:
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the safest, cheapest, and most effective way to leave the U.S. and avoid arrest.”

“Download the CBP Home app TODAY and self-deport,” Noem urged.

Unlike these voluntary actions, ICE continues enforcement operations in Houston focused on violent offenders. A recent raid resulted in 528 deportations, including 296 individuals with criminal records.

One of the flights carried 38 Hondurans, who were received by their home country’s Brother, Sister, Come Home program, which provides cash bonuses, food vouchers, and job placement assistance.

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Another flight returned 26 Colombians, who were welcomed by Colombian immigration officials and received social services through the ICBF and the Department of Social Prosperity.

These actions mark a major shift from the Biden administration’s immigration strategy, which focused on addressing the “root causes of migration” and facilitated entry via parole programs and government-funded flights.

Trump Administration Prioritizes Immediate Repatriation

The Trump administration has reversed those policies, emphasizing immediate repatriation—including agreements with countries like El Salvador to send criminals to high-security prisons.

Noem reiterated: “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’ll face fines, arrest, deportation, and a permanent ban on returning.”

“If you’re in this country illegally, self-deport NOW and preserve the opportunity to return legally in the future.”

This new federal approach represents a sharp pivot in U.S. immigration policy, prioritizing voluntary departure with economic incentives and logistical support.

While criminal enforcement efforts continue, the government’s message is clear: those who self-deport may be granted a second chance to return legally.

What do you think of this self-deportation strategy with financial incentives?

SOURCE: The Center Square