The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has increased the financial incentive it offers to certain undocumented migrants who agree to leave the United States on their own by the end of 2025.
The payment, known inside the agency as an “exit bonus,” has been raised to $3,000. The amount is three times higher than the previous level. The change applies to eligible migrants who voluntarily depart the country by December 31, 2025.
The department has described voluntary departure as a way to reduce the need for formal deportation proceedings in some cases. It has also described such payments as a tool to encourage migrants to comply with departure orders without the use of detention or forced removal.
The $3,000 exit bonus is aimed at undocumented migrants who meet specific criteria set by immigration authorities. These criteria can include factors such as the person’s immigration history, any prior removal orders, and their current status in immigration court. The program does not apply to all undocumented migrants inside the United States. It does not replace existing enforcement measures such as arrests, detention, and formal deportation proceedings, which remain in use.
Officials use these types of financial incentives in some cases to shorten the time people spend in the immigration system. The department considers voluntary departure as a way to manage limited detention space and court resources.
Migrants who accept voluntary departure typically agree to leave the country at their own expense or with logistical support arranged through the government or partner organizations. The exit bonus is designed to offset costs such as travel and resettlement in their country of origin or another destination where they have legal status.