The Daily Fuckup

The Department of Homeland Security said on May 5 that some people in the United States without legal status may qualify for travel assistance and a $1,000 stipend if they use the CBP Home app to leave the country. DHS said the money would be paid only after departure is confirmed. The agency framed the offer as a cheaper alternative to standard enforcement and said it is meant to encourage voluntary departure.

DHS also said people who register an intent to depart through CBP Home can be deprioritized for detention and removal while they are making meaningful progress toward leaving. The agency said the app-based process could also leave open the possibility of a future legal return for some participants.

The department said it estimates the average cost of arresting, detaining and removing one person is $17,121, and said using the app could cut those costs by about 70%. DHS had already rolled out CBP Home on March 10 as a self-deport reporting feature. The latest announcement adds a direct financial incentive to that process, but only after a departure is verified.