U.S. offers migrants free airline tickets and $1,000 stipend if they self-deport
CBS2 days
Trump Offering $1,000 For Migrants to 'Self-Deport'
Above: U.S. President Donald Trump walks to take questions from the press on the South Lawn, upon returning to the White House on May 4, 2025. Image copyright: Alex Wroblewski/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Migrants granted this opportunity should consider themselves lucky, as this is a major change in approach for the Trump administration. Trump was elected with a mandate to rid the country of those living in the United States illegally, and now they have a chance to leave without becoming entangled with ICE or facing fines. As an added bonus Trump will save American taxpayers huge amounts.
Democratic narrative
Despite promises from the government that those who begin the process of leaving won't be bothered by any of the numerous agencies working on the president's mass deportation, migrants should remain leery of giving up their personal data. And despite current claims, past studies have shown that paying people to leave will turn out to be a major burden on American taxpayers.