First group of ‘self-deporting’ migrants departs US

Demonstrators picket for the release of immigrants detained by ICE at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island on May 15, 2025. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON — The first group of undocumented migrants who accepted a payment of $1,000 from the US government and agreed to “self-deport” were flown from the United States to Honduras and Colombia on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.

A total of 64 migrants were aboard the “voluntary charter flight” that took off from Houston, Texas, DHS said in a statement.

“They received travel assistance, a $1,000 stipend, and preserved the possibility they could one day return to the United States legally,” it said.

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Thirty-eight of the migrants were flown to Honduras, while the other 26 went to Colombia.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem urged other undocumented migrants in the United States to take advantage of what the department is calling “Project Homecoming.”

“Take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home,” Noem said. “If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return.

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“If you are in this country illegally, self-deport now and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal, right way,” she said.

Donald Trump campaigned for president promising to expel millions of undocumented migrants, and he has taken a number of actions since returning to power in January aimed at speeding up deportations.

For instance, Trump has invoked an obscure wartime law to summarily deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, has sent troops to the Mexican border, and has imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada for allegedly not doing enough to stop illegal border crossings.