The Trump administration has launched a $915 million initiative, Project Homecoming, to encourage undocumented immigrants in the United States to voluntarily leave the country. Under this program, participants can receive up to $2,600 in stipends along with free flights to return to their home countries. According to an internal document from the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), nearly 72,000 immigrants have left the US through the program as of March 2026. More than half of these participants were already in ICE detention when they took part.
The program primarily targets immigrants who are either in detention or willing to depart voluntarily. DHS claims that voluntary departures under Project Homecoming save the government money compared to traditional deportations and offer a more dignified path for
participants. However, some experts have questioned the program’s effectiveness, noting that many immigrants may have chosen to leave even without financial incentives.
Through Project Homecoming, immigrants can register using the CBP Home app and receive payment once their departure is confirmed. For example, Lisette, a Honduran immigrant, left the US with her family after her husband’s detention and received a $1,000 stipend. A Brazilian immigrant similarly used the app to depart and received payment directly into her bank account.
Attorney Dara Arroyo Longoria noted that many immigrants do not fully understand the program’s conditions and potential consequences. Voluntary departure can result in long-term restrictions on re-entering the United States, sometimes lasting years or even decades. She added, “Many people are taking what they believe is government guidance without fully understanding the long-term legal implications.”
Voluntary departure has existed as a legal option even before Project Homecoming. According to DHS data, more than 35,000 immigrants left the US voluntarily in fiscal year 2025, a significant increase compared to the previous year.
