President Donald Trump’s Project Homecoming offers illegal immigrants a straightforward choice: accept $1,000 to leave voluntarily or face severe consequences including jail time and property confiscation under the most aggressive deportation program in U.S. history.
Key Takeaways
- Project Homecoming will hire 20,000 additional DHS officers to enforce immigration policies through enhanced deportation efforts
- Illegal immigrants who voluntarily depart using the CBP Home app receive a $1,000 “exit bonus” and travel assistance, reducing deportation costs by 70%
- Those who refuse voluntary departure face jail time, financial penalties, and property confiscation
- The International Organization for Migration will assist with voluntary returns under an agreement with the U.S. government
- Trump claims the program will ultimately save American taxpayers “trillions of dollars”
Strategic Enforcement with Financial Incentives
President Trump’s Project Homecoming represents a significant pivot in U.S. immigration enforcement strategy, combining aggressive deportation efforts with financial incentives for voluntary compliance. The initiative directs the Department of Homeland Security to expand its enforcement capabilities by hiring or deputizing at least 20,000 additional officers through new hires, interagency transfers, and partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies. This massive increase in immigration enforcement personnel signals the administration’s commitment to addressing what many conservative voters view as a crisis that has been ignored for too long.
The most innovative aspect of the program is its voluntary departure component, which offers illegal immigrants a $1,000 “exit bonus” if they leave the country using the CBP Home app. This digital solution reportedly reduces deportation costs by 70% compared to traditional removal methods, creating both humanitarian and fiscal benefits. The program also provides travel assistance to those who voluntarily depart, removing common barriers to repatriation while still achieving the administration’s enforcement goals.
Trump Unveils Accelerated Deportation Drive With 20,000 More Officers, UN Agreement
The new initiative—called ‘Project Homecoming’—pairs self-deportation incentives with ramped-up enforcement. pic.twitter.com/EhxvuMeMef
— Epoch Times Print Edition (@EpochTimesPrint) May 10, 2025
Carrot and Stick Approach
Project Homecoming employs a clear “carrot and stick” strategy, with the administration making it abundantly clear that those who refuse to comply with voluntary departure will face serious consequences. Federal officials have been given 60 days to launch an intensive campaign targeting non-compliant individuals, after which enforcement actions will dramatically escalate. The administration has indicated that those who remain illegally in the country will face potential jail time, substantial financial penalties, property confiscation, and wage garnishment.
“Illegal aliens who stay in America face punishments, including significant jail time, enormous financial penalties, confiscation of all property, garnishment of all wages, imprisonment, and sudden deportation, in a place and manner solely of our discretion.” Business Insider Africa
Interestingly, the program doesn’t permanently close the door on migrants who choose to self-deport. President Trump has indicated that those who comply with the voluntary departure process may be eligible to return legally in the future, providing an additional incentive for cooperation. This pathway to potential legal reentry represents a pragmatic recognition that some migrants may have skills or attributes valuable to the United States economy, even as the administration prioritizes border security and immigration enforcement.
Trump Unveils Accelerated Deportation Drive With 20,000 More Officers, UN Agreement | The new initiative—called ‘Project Homecoming’—pairs self-deportation incentives with ramped-up enforcement. -The Epoch Times https://t.co/CDbCbWpI67
— Doug Bell (@therealdougbell) May 10, 2025
International Cooperation and Economic Benefits
The Trump administration has secured the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as an implementing partner for the voluntary return aspects of Project Homecoming. This international cooperation provides legitimacy to the program while utilizing established channels for migrant repatriation. The IOM has emphasized that its role is specifically to provide safe and informed voluntary returns rather than participating in forced deportations, creating a framework that respects migrant dignity while still achieving enforcement objectives.
“For decades, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programs in more than 100 countries. At the request of the U.S. government, IOM is providing AVR to people in the U.S. who register to return to their countries of origin voluntarily,” stated the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
President Trump has repeatedly emphasized the economic benefits of Project Homecoming, arguing that removing millions of illegal immigrants will save American taxpayers enormous sums in public benefits, education, healthcare, and law enforcement costs. “This deportation bonus will save American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. Eventually, when the illegals are gone, it will save us trillions,” Trump stated, highlighting the long-term fiscal reasoning behind the initiative. For many American citizens frustrated by rising costs and strained public services, these economic arguments provide compelling justification for the program.
Addressing a Crisis of American Sovereignty
Project Homecoming represents the most comprehensive effort to address illegal immigration in modern American history, directly confronting what many Americans view as a fundamental threat to national sovereignty. After years of what conservatives perceived as ineffective or deliberately weak enforcement policies under previous administrations, Trump’s initiative signals a return to prioritizing the interests of American citizens and legal residents. While critics raise concerns about humanitarian implications, supporters view the program as a necessary reassertion of American sovereignty and the rule of law.
“If you’re really good, we’re going to try and help you get back in.” The Epoch Times
The program’s initial implementation will be closely watched as deportation operations scale up in the coming months. With the CBP Home app already available and the DHS expanding its enforcement capacity, Project Homecoming has quickly moved from campaign promise to active policy. For Americans who have long demanded stronger immigration enforcement, this initiative represents the fulfillment of Trump’s commitment to prioritize American citizens and restore order to a system many believe has been deliberately undermined to the detriment of national security and economic prosperity.
