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But what initially sounded like a political talking point is now backed by hard data.
According to internal figures from the Department of Homeland Security, roughly 72,000 individuals had already self-deported using the program as of March 2026.
That figure includes tens of thousands who have completed the process and thousands more in the pipeline preparing to leave.
Even more striking, voluntary departures through immigration courts surged dramatically, jumping to over 34,000 in fiscal year 2025 compared to just over 8,000 the previous year.
The trend is unmistakable. More migrants are choosing to leave on their own rather than risk enforcement.
The Cost Factor That Changes Everything
Beyond the headline numbers lies a financial reality that is turning heads in Washington.
Federal estimates place the cost of locating, detaining, and deporting a single illegal migrant at over $17,000.
By contrast, the CBP Home program costs just over $5,000 per person, including travel and a $2,600 stipend.
That difference is not minor. It represents roughly a 70 percent reduction in cost per removal.
For policymakers focused on budgets and efficiency, that gap is impossible to ignore.
The administration has not been subtle about promoting the program.
“The number of illegal aliens wisely choosing to use CBP Home is skyrocketing,” DHS posted publicly.
“If you are in our nation illegally, download the app NOW to get a free flight home PLUS a $2,600 exit bonus.”
The message is clear and direct. Leave voluntarily with assistance, or risk forced removal under stricter enforcement.
A Strategic Flip That Rewrites the Narrative
The real significance of this policy lies in how it reshapes the original purpose of the technology.
Under Biden, CBP One was designed as a tool to manage and process incoming migrants.
Under Trump, the same framework has been turned in the opposite direction.
Instead of facilitating entry, it is now accelerating exit.
That reversal is what makes the program politically explosive.
For years, critics argued that voluntary self-deportation was unrealistic. The idea was widely mocked when first proposed more than a decade ago.
But enforcement changes the equation.
When migrants believe that remaining in the country carries serious consequences such as arrest, detention, and long-term bans, the calculus shifts quickly.
The administration has reinforced that perception by highlighting large-scale enforcement numbers, with hundreds of thousands of removals already reported.
Faced with that reality, many migrants appear to be choosing certainty over risk.
Incentives Driving Behavior
The $2,600 payment has drawn criticism from opponents who frame it as rewarding illegal behavior.
Supporters, however, argue that it is a practical investment.
Paying a smaller amount upfront to avoid far greater enforcement costs later creates a system that is both faster and more scalable.
In essence, the government is purchasing compliance at a discount.
And based on current participation levels, the strategy appears to be working.
A Policy Shift With Political Consequences
What makes this development particularly difficult for critics is its origin.
The infrastructure enabling this program was built under the previous administration.
Trump did not create the system from scratch. He repurposed it.
That reality complicates attempts to dismiss the program outright.
It also raises broader questions about how immigration tools can be adapted depending on policy priorities.
One administration used the app to manage arrivals.
The next is using it to drive departures.
And as the numbers continue to climb, the debate is shifting from theory to results.
The Bottom Line
Project Homecoming is no longer hypothetical. It is operational, expanding, and producing measurable outcomes.
Tens of thousands have already left voluntarily.
Many more appear ready to follow.
The tool once associated with record border inflows is now being used to reduce them.
And for Democrats who once defended its original purpose, that reversal may be the most unexpected twist of all.
