The city of Houston recently witnessed the inaugural flight of "Project Homecoming," a novel initiative signed into proclamation by President Donald Trump.
This unique project provides illegal immigrants with the opportunity to voluntarily leave the United States with government assistance, a financial incentive, and the potential to apply for legal re-entry at a later date.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) coordinated the first operation of this kind on Monday, overseeing the repatriation of 64 individuals who had unlawfully entered the country.
The first batch of immigrants who opted for self-deportation and accepted a $1,000 stipend departed the United States on a chartered flight on Monday, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security.
The flight carried 64 nationals, including 26 from Colombia and 38 from Honduras, back to their home countries under the banner of "Project Homecoming." The passengers boarded a charter bus before embarking on a World Atlantic Airlines charter that departed Houston at 9:30 a.m. CDT. Children were provided with toys and all passengers received a lunch bag.
According to RedState, the DHS clarified in a news release that "This was a voluntary charter flight, not an ICE enforcement operation." The department further explained that "All participants were offered the same benefits as any illegal alien who self-deports using the CBP Home App. They received travel assistance, a $1,000 stipend, and preserved the possibility they could one day return to the United States legally."
The Trump administration had earlier repurposed the CBP One app, previously used by the Biden administration to allow illegal immigrants to schedule an appointment to claim asylum at U.S. ports of entry. The DHS renamed the app to CBP Home and reprogrammed it to enable illegal aliens to schedule a different appointment: the date they would self-deport. This move would place them in line to receive a stipend once their return to their home country is confirmed.
A DHS spokesperson stated that this initiative would not only save taxpayer money but also conserve law enforcement resources for more severe cases of illegal entrenchment in the country. Fox News' Bill Melugin reported that the DHS informed him that this approach would save American taxpayers 70%, as the current average cost for DHS to arrest, detain, and deport someone from the U.S. is over $17,000. In contrast, the cost of self-removal flights and the stipend is projected to be just $4,500. This method is also deemed safer for ICE and helps preserve their resources.
Illegal aliens must register on the CBP Home app and file their notice to leave the US to receive the financial assistance. The stipend will only be paid once the alien is confirmed to have left the United States. The DHS also stated that any aliens who register to self-deport will be immediately de-prioritized for ICE arrest and will maintain the ability to return to the U.S. legally in the future.
The Trump administration's multi-pronged approach is not only keeping Democrats, adversarial judges, and immigrant activists on their toes, but it is also utilizing, as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Border Czar Tom Homan, and other cabinet members have said, "All the tools in the toolbox." A flight back is infinitely more comfortable than how some of them came across the border, and in many of these countries to which the aliens are being repatriated, $1,000 is a substantial aid to start a new life.
Illegal aliens still in the country have 60 days from the date of the proclamation to take the U.S. up on the offer, after which the enforcement arm of ICE will swing into action. While sixty-four may seem like a small number, it's part of the shock and awe strategy being employed that is helping to secure our homeland, and shut down the illegal influx and human trafficking that was rampant less than a year ago.
This initiative is a testament to the administration's commitment to uphold traditional values, limited government, individual freedom, and free-market economics, all while ensuring the security and prosperity of the nation.
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