Donald Trump says “good” undocumented immigrants may receive stipends and assistance to leave the U.S. voluntarily, with a chance to return legally — a stark contrast to his earlier deportation-driven agenda.
BY PC Bureau
After years of championing mass deportations and hardline immigration policies, former U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a surprising shift in approach. In a recent interview with Fox Noticias, Trump revealed plans for a new program aimed at encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the country — with the incentive of cash stipends and free plane tickets.
“We’re going to give them a stipend. We’re going to give them some money and a plane ticket,” Trump said. “And then we’re going to work with them — if they’re good people, if we want them back — we’ll help them return legally and as quickly as possible.”
The proposal marks a departure from Trump’s previous stance on immigration, which heavily emphasized enforcement, detention, and large-scale deportations. Instead of forcefully removing undocumented migrants, the new plan focuses on what Trump calls “self-deportation”: persuading individuals to leave the country on their own, with the promise of potential legal reentry.
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Trump clarified that the first priority would remain identifying and deporting individuals with criminal backgrounds. “We’re getting the murderers out,” he stated, reiterating that law enforcement would still target serious offenders. But for others, especially those with no criminal history, he envisions a more “comfortable” process that could eventually benefit both sides.
Trump unveils a plan to provide nonviolent illegal immigrants with a stipend and a plane ticket to encourage voluntary self-deportation.pic.twitter.com/oEUPHKYI1u
— Department of Government Efficiency News (@DOGE__news) April 16, 2025
“This is about fairness and helping the country,” Trump said. “We’re doing self-deportation, and we’re going to make it comfortable for people. And we’re going to work with those people to come back to our country legally.”
In a notable pivot, Trump also acknowledged the labor needs of key U.S. industries, particularly agriculture and hospitality. He said many American farms and businesses are struggling due to labor shortages — a reality that, he suggested, this policy could help address in the long term.
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“Farmers are in trouble. There’s not enough labor,” he noted. “This would be very soothing for them.”
According to Trump, individuals who voluntarily signal their intent to leave could use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app to initiate the process. While the logistical details of the proposed program remain unclear and its implementation uncertain, the idea introduces a more nuanced — and potentially controversial — element to Trump’s immigration platform as he gears up for a potential return to office.
