The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is set to launch a new initiative that would offer unaccompanied migrant teenagers a one-time payment of $2,500 if they agree to voluntarily return to their home countries, CNN reported on Saturday.
According to an administration memo obtained by the outlet, the pilot programme will start with 17-year-old migrants and will require the approval of an immigration judge before any departure is approved.
The payment, to be issued only after the minor’s arrival in their home country, is intended to support “reintegration efforts.”
This proposed plan builds on an existing voluntary return scheme introduced under the Trump administration, which currently offers $1,000 “exit bonuses” to undocumented adults who choose self-deportation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has defended the initiative, calling it a cost-effective alternative to lengthy detention and deportation processes.
“This programme is entirely voluntary and allows minors to make informed choices about their future,” an ICE spokesperson said.
As of October 2, about 2,100 unaccompanied minors remain in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, awaiting placement or immigration hearings.
However, the new proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant rights advocates, who argue that paying minors to leave could breach legal protections for vulnerable youths under U.S. immigration law.
“There’s no valid justification for offering financial incentives for voluntary departure,” said Neha Desai of the National Center for Youth Law, describing the policy as “deeply concerning.”
Advocates also warn that such payments could pressure children into returning to unsafe or unstable environments, undermining the humanitarian standards meant to protect unaccompanied minors.
The plan has reignited debate over how the U.S. should address the rise in border arrivals, especially among unaccompanied minors seeking asylum or family reunification.
While DHS insists the initiative is meant to cut costs and simplify immigration processes, critics say it raises serious ethical and legal concerns about the treatment of migrant children in federal care.
