US launches ‘Self-Deportation’ option in CBP app for illegal immigrants
Babushahi Bureau
Washington (US), March 13, 2025: The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has introduced a controversial new feature in its mobile app, allowing undocumented immigrants to voluntarily "self-deport." This move is part of former President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at tightening immigration enforcement.
The updated CBP Home app—previously known as CBP One—now includes a button for undocumented individuals to submit a self-deportation plan, potentially avoiding harsher penalties. Interim CBP Commissioner Pete Flores described it as “a straightforward way to voluntarily depart before facing stricter consequences.”
The initiative is part of a $200 million campaign by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called "Stay Out and Leave Now." The campaign includes advertisements featuring images of undocumented immigrants arrested for crimes, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem stating, “Those who self-deport may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.”
Under President Joe Biden, the app was originally designed to help asylum seekers schedule appointments at US ports of entry. However, following Trump’s executive order in January 2025, CBP cancelled all scheduled appointments for individuals seeking humanitarian entry or other legal access.
The order also instructed agencies to identify undocumented immigrants, establish detention centers, and impose fines on those aiding them.
The policy shift comes amid significant changes in immigration enforcement. In 2024, the final year of Biden’s term, illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border fell by over 80%, following a mix of stricter border controls and expanded legal entry options. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies continue to push for even tougher immigration policies ahead of the upcoming elections.
The introduction of the self-deportation option has sparked widespread debate, with immigration advocates arguing it pressures vulnerable individuals into leaving rather than seeking legal protections.
Meanwhile, Trump supporters hail it as a necessary step toward border security. The long-term impact of this policy remains to be seen.