Donald Trump has signed an executive order encouraging illegal immigrants to “self-deport” by offering free flights abroad, following legal challenges to his mass deportation plans.
“We are making it as easy as possible for illegal immigrants to leave,” stated the U.S. President in a video shared on his platform, Truth Social. He announced that any illegal immigrant could simply go to an airport to receive a free flight out of the country.
Travellers can also book flights directly via a mobile app, Trump explained. “You can go anywhere you want, as long as it’s not here,” the Republican billionaire asserted.
He warned that those who remain in the U.S. risk facing “sanctions, including sudden deportation, at a time and place of our sole discretion.”
Earlier this week, the administration announced plans to allocate $1,000 to immigrants who voluntarily leave, covering their travel expenses. Trump suggested that individuals choosing this option might “perhaps one day” be allowed to return to the U.S. legally.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) highlighted that this procedure could “reduce deportation costs by approximately 70%,” with the average cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting an illegal immigrant being $17,121 (€15,213.9).
The DHS noted that one individual from Honduras had already used the programme to return home.
