The Donald Trump administration, through the United States Department of Homeland Security, has announced a limited-time incentive to illegal migrants leaving in the United States to leave for their home countries.
In a statement released, “undocumented migrants who register to self-deport through the CBP Home app by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend, in addition to a free flight to their home country”.
The Department of Homeland Security revealed that since January 2025, about 1.9 million undocumented migrants have voluntarily left the country.
Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, revealed the incentive had been temporarily increased for the Christmas season.
“Since January 2025, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported, and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program.
“During the Christmas season, the US taxpayer is so generously tripling the incentive to leave voluntarily for those in this country illegally—offering a $3,000 exit bonus, but just until the end of the year,” Noem said.
“Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” she added.
“The American people are generously offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now,” it announced. To pay for the flights and “exit bonuses,” the State Department repurposed $250 million intended to help resettle refugees.
In related news, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has informed Parliament that 388 Ghanaians have been in detention in the US since January 2025.
Ablakwa revealed that 388 Ghanaians are in detention on immigration-related charges, with 120 awaiting final decision.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, 169 Ghanaians have been deported from the U.S. since January 2025, with 120 more awaiting final deportation.
He further clarified that Ghana has not requested any monetary or material support from the U.S. for accepting these deportees.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, Ablakwa stated, “388 Ghanaians have been in detention since January this year on immigration-related charges. Of this number, 120 are awaiting final decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals. 49 have exhausted all legal processes and await final deportation arrangements.”
“As of today, per the Ministry’s records, 169 Ghanaians have been deported to Ghana since January 2025. Of this number, 90 arrived in Ghana unaccompanied on commercial flights, and 66 on chartered, controlled flights supervised by ICE agents,” the Minister added.
Alabkwa further revealed that Ghana did not ask for a cent before accepting US West African deportees.
According to him, Ghana did not ask the United States for any money or material support in connection with its decision to receive some third-party deportees.
He revealed that Ghana accepted the West African nationals based on humanitarian and Pan-African reasons.