Washington: One of Donald Trump’s major thrusts in his campaign to be US President for a second term was to remove illegal migrants.
Since he took oath at the White House in January, more than 2.5 million illegal migrants have left the US, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deporting 605,000 people and another 1.9 million self-deporting.
But there are still several thousands who are staying put in the US despite not having valid documents.
In a bid to accelerate deportations, the Trump administration has announced a Christmas-season incentive for undocumented immigrants, offering them cash payments and paid travel to leave the United States voluntarily.
The DHS said illegal migrants who register to self-deport through the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home app by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend (Rs 2.7 lakh) and a free flight out of the country.
Not just that, those who take the offer would qualify for forgiveness of civil fines or penalties related to overstaying.
The new offer is three times more than the $1,000 incentive announced by the government in May.
“Self-deportation through the CBP Home app is the best gift that an illegal alien can give themselves and their families this holiday season. It’s a fast, free and easy process,” DHS stated.
The department went on to warn that those who did not take advantage of the offer would face enforcement action.
“Those illegal aliens who don’t take advantage of this special offer today have only one alternative: They will be arrested, deported and will never be able to return to the United States,” DHS added.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem urged undocumented migrants to accept the “gift”.
“If they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” she echoed the official statement.
