DHS Rolls Out ‘Self-Deportation’ App – Here’s What It Means

The Department of Homeland Security is ramping up efforts to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the US voluntarily.

United States: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing its efforts to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the United States voluntarily. To support this initiative, DHS has launched a mobile application and a large-scale advertising campaign.

The number of deportations has been lower than expected since President Donald Trump took office, despite his strong focus on immigration enforcement. In response, his administration has revived and modified the CBP One app, now rebranded as the CBP Home app. Under the Biden administration, the app allowed migrants to apply for legal entry as asylum-seekers. However, the new version includes a “self-deportation reporting feature,” which DHS describes as the “safest option” for undocumented immigrants while also conserving law enforcement resources.

As part of this broader initiative, DHS has allocated USD 200 million for an advertising campaign featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. In the ads, Noem emphasizes the government’s stance on immigration, stating: “President Trump has a clear message for those who are in our country illegally: Leave now. If you don’t, we will find you and deport you. You will never return.” The ad concludes with the message that America welcomes those who follow its laws, according to NBC News.

The advertisements have been broadcast on television stations in states such as New Jersey, New York, California, and Florida, as well as in major cities like Phoenix, Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington. DHS has also released an international version of the campaign to discourage illegal entry into the US.

Reports indicate that two firms with ties to the Republican Party were contracted to manage this messaging effort. In a statement, Noem reiterated that immigrants who choose self-deportation “may still have an opportunity to return legally in the future,” but if they remain illegally, they will be removed permanently.

The new CBP Home app allows illegal aliens to notify us of their intent to self deport.

Self-deportation is not only the safest option but also saves taxpayer dollars and valuable law enforcement resources. pic.twitter.com/YfR9Gavwur

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 11, 2025

However, immigration experts and advocates have raised concerns about this approach. Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, pointed out that voluntary departure does not guarantee a future legal return. Factors such as prior unlawful presence or previous deportation orders could prevent re-entry.

According to reports by NBC News, Heidi Altman, vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, warned that forcing people to leave their homes and families carries political, moral, and economic consequences. She criticized the administration’s approach, stating that many individuals who leave may never have a legal path back into the US.

Immigrant rights advocate Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet expressed concerns that Trump’s broader immigration policies, including the termination of legal protections such as Temporary Protected Status and refugee programs, could leave many previously legal immigrants vulnerable to deportation. He suggested that self-deportation campaigns are designed to pressure individuals into leaving by making life increasingly difficult for them.

Legal experts, including Bree Bernwanger from the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, emphasized that undocumented individuals still have the right to contest their removal in court. She warned that accepting voluntary departure could lead to long-term consequences, such as being barred from re-entering the US, even if a lawful reason for return later arises, as per NBC News.

The Trump administration repurposed the CBP one app into a self deportation tool for criminal legal aliens.

Trump is using it to have them deport themselves. pic.twitter.com/7ZCaEIQ94b

— IndySpanglish (@IndySpanglish) March 10, 2025

DHS believes that the new app could help track self-deportations, a process that is difficult to measure accurately. While data exists on voluntary departures at the border, there is little information on undocumented immigrants who leave the country without formal deportation proceedings.

This policy shift underscores the administration’s focus on stricter immigration enforcement, though it remains a subject of debate among policymakers, legal experts, and advocacy groups.