A group of 64 undocumented immigrants voluntarily left the United States on May 19 under a self-deportation program launched during the Donald Trump administration, which offers $1,000 in aid to participants.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the group departed from Houston, Texas, aboard a chartered flight as part of the initiative known as Project Homecoming.
Of the deported group, 38 were Honduran nationals and 26 were Colombian nationals. The Associated Press (AP) reported that four U.S.-born children also returned with their parents to their home countries, citing a statement by Antonio García, Colombia’s Foreign Minister.
The DHS emphasized that participants received travel assistance and a $1,000 stipend, and retained the possibility of returning to the U.S. legally in the future.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem encouraged other undocumented immigrants to apply for Project Homecoming and voluntarily return to their home countries with financial support.
“If you’re here illegally, choose to leave voluntarily and receive return assistance,” she said. “If not, you could face fines, detention, deportation, and be permanently barred from reentering the U.S.”
