By Ollus Ndomu
U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a new self-deportation initiative offering financial incentives and airline tickets to undocumented migrants who voluntarily leave the country, as part of his broader strategy to address the ongoing U.S. border crisis.
In an interview with Fox News aired Thursday, Trump said the plan would prioritize the removal of individuals with criminal records, particularly “murderers,” while offering logistical and financial support to others willing to exit the United States on their own.
“We’re going to help them go back,” Trump said. “We’ll give them a plane ticket, some money, and help them start again—just not here.”
The initiative echoes earlier self-deportation proposals floated during Trump’s 2016 campaign, though it now includes assistance to U.S. industries, including agriculture and hospitality, that have been reliant on migrant labor.
Trump said his team would work with employers to identify legal workers, suggesting that “hotels and farms will have a list” of suitable candidates vetted through the program.
The proposal comes amid criticism of the Biden administration’s immigration enforcement policies, especially over reports that deported migrants are being transferred to prisons in El Salvador. The U.S. government is reportedly paying $6 million to house deportees in detention facilities in the Central American nation.
Human rights organizations have condemned the arrangement, citing concerns over conditions in Salvadoran prisons and the safety of deported individuals.
Trump’s comments signal an aggressive shift in immigration policy that may dominate the political discourse ahead of the 2024 election, reigniting debate over the balance between enforcement, humanitarian considerations, and labor market demands.
