U.S. Launches First Self-Deportation Flight

The United States government has carried out on May 20th, 2025, the first flight under its voluntary deportation initiative, officially named the "Homecoming Project", established by presidential decree on May 9 by President Donald Trump. The initiative is part of a broader set of stricter immigration policies adopted during the president’s second term to curb illegal immigration in the country.

The flight departed from Houston, Texas, bound for Honduras and Colombia, carrying 64 immigrants who agreed to voluntarily return to their countries of origin. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), each participant received a financial incentive of $1,000 and logistical support for the trip, along with the opportunity to legally re-enter the United States in the future.

Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, emphasized that the flight was entirely voluntary and involved no enforcement actions by immigration authorities. The program aims to expedite the removal of undocumented immigrants while significantly reducing the costs associated with traditional deportation procedures.

Of the 64 immigrants on board, 38 were repatriated to Honduras and 26 to Colombia. In San Pedro Sula, Honduran authorities and representatives from the National Institute of Migration welcomed the returnees, providing them with initial support, including $200 in cash and food vouchers. In Colombia, the returnees received access to social services to assist with their reintegration.

The Trump administration has warned that immigrants who do not opt into the program may face severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, asset seizures, wage garnishments, and a ban on re-entry to the United States. As part of its strategy to promote voluntary departure, DHS also recently launched the CBP Home mobile application, a digital tool designed to streamline the voluntary departure process, an adaptation of a platform originally developed under former President Joe Biden’s administration (2021–2024).