Thousands of illegal immigrants have decided to self-deport after a warning was sent through the Biden-era CBP One app by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to leave voluntarily or face deportation.
According to Fox News, DHS data shows the current number of people who have left the U.S. voluntarily using the app has hit over 5,000.
President Donald Trump and his administration have kicked deportation messaging into high gear, encouraging illegal immigrants to leave before they could face a potential lifetime ban from reentry into the U.S. and daily fines.
Recently, the administration has been distributing flyers addressed to “illegal aliens,” detailing that “self-deportation is safe,” and telling illegal immigrants they should “leave on your own terms by picking your departure flight.”
Illegal immigrants who have received final orders of removal could receive fines of $998 per day, and fines of $1,000 to $5,000 could be issued if they claim they will leave and don’t.
The flyer further says that immigrants who self-deport can keep the money that they have made during their time in the U.S., possibly return to the U.S. in the future legally, and get potential financial assistance or flights if they are unable to afford to leave.
Fox News further reported that America First Legal Senior Counsel James Rogers said the self-deportation messaging is working because of the “credible threat of enforcement.”
“Our nation’s immigration laws impose severe penalties on aliens who are illegally in the country. The only reason there is a large population of illegal immigrants residing in the United States is because prior administrations have failed to enforce these laws passed by Congress,” Rogers said. “Everyone knows this, including the aliens who have been illegally living here. The current trend of illegal aliens self-deporting proves that even just the credible threat of enforcement can be enough to get many illegal immigrants to comply with our laws and leave the country.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News on Tuesday that illegal aliens should use the app to leave or “face the consequences.”
“Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now. If they don’t, they will face the consequences,” McLaughlin said. “This includes a fine of $998 per day for every day that the illegal alien overstayed their final deportation order.”
