In a significant escalation of its immigration enforcement strategy, the Trump administration is offering a major financial incentive for individuals to leave the United States voluntarily before the year's end.
Tripled Incentive and a Stern Warning
During an appearance on Fox and Friends, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced a new offer for illegal immigrants. Any individual who chooses to self-deport before 31 December will receive a $3,000 stipend and a free flight home. This represents a tripling of the previous $1,000 incentive offered by the administration.
However, the offer came with a stark warning. Noem stated unequivocally that those who do not accept this 'gift' will face severe consequences. 'If they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will not return,' she pledged, framing the incentive as a final opportunity before more aggressive enforcement actions.
Pressure to Meet Ambitious Deportation Targets
This urgent push appears driven by internal dissatisfaction within the administration regarding the pace of removals. According to a New York Times report citing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data, over 400,000 deportations have occurred during the second Trump term so far.
Despite this high number, the figures are reportedly falling short of targets set by influential adviser Stephen Miller, who aimed for 3,000 deportations per day. The current daily average is between 1,000 and 2,000. DHS projections indicate President Trump is on track to deport 600,000 people by year's end, missing his stated goal of 1 million.
Recruitment Crisis and Leadership Rumours
The pressure to increase deportations has led to a frantic hiring spree for deportation officers, which has exposed serious problems. The Daily Mail reported that the administration's push to hire 10,000 new officers has been marred by lax vetting and lucrative signing bonuses attracting unfit candidates.
One DHS official revealed shocking failures, stating: 'We have people failing open-book tests and we have folks that can barely read or write English.' In one extreme case, a 469-pound recruit was sent to the academy despite a doctor certifying him unfit for any physical activity. Insiders said the process was so rushed that drug test results were not awaited, leading to hires later testing positive.
Amid these challenges, rumours swirl about Noem's future. President Trump is said to be considering a replacement to lead DHS, with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who leaves office in January due to term limits, floated as a potential successor.
The enhanced self-deportation scheme is a clear attempt to bolster the administration's immigration record in the final weeks of the calendar year, combining a substantial carrot with a very sharp stick.
