Trump Encourages Illegal Immigrants to 'Self-Deport' Using CBP Home App

President Donald Trump has announced a bold new strategy for tackling illegal immigration, urging undocumented individuals to "self-deport" using a newly unveiled app from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The app, named CBP Home, is being promoted as a straightforward way for illegal immigrants to declare their intent to leave the United States voluntarily.

In a video set to release on social media this week, Trump didn't shy away from making his position crystal clear, declaring, "People in our country can self-deport the easy way, or they can get deported the hard way, and that's not pleasant." The CBP Home app was introduced earlier this month as a replacement for the controversial CBP One app, which was initially launched during the Biden administration to facilitate migrant entry into the U.S.

Trump criticized the previous administration, claiming that the CBP One app had allowed over a million individuals to illegally enter the country, further stating, "Now, my administration is launching the CBP Home app to give people in our country illegally an easy way to leave now and self-deport voluntarily." The app also offers the opportunity for those who self-deport to potentially return legally in the future, but with a stern warning: refusal to comply may result in permanent exclusion from the U.S.

The CBP Home app enables users to submit their "Intent to Depart" and provide verification of their departure from the country. However, this feature is restricted to individuals who entered the U.S. under the Biden-era parole system.

Trump emphasized that this method is the "safest option" for both law enforcement and illegal immigrants, allowing law enforcement resources to focus on apprehending and deporting individuals convicted of violent crimes. His administration has swiftly moved to curtail the number of migrants entering the U.S., including those granted humanitarian parole—a practice that had significantly expanded under the previous administration.

The rollout of CBP Home is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration policies. On his first day back in office, Trump discontinued the use of the CBP One app for paroling migrants and paused applications for parole programs. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also recently ended the use of CBP One to allow migrants to board domestic flights, except when utilized for self-deportation.

While the CBP Home app represents a tech-savvy approach to immigration enforcement, it's clear Trump is maintaining his hardline stance. Whether this digital option will lead to meaningful reductions in undocumented immigration—or simply stir up more controversy—remains to be seen.