The United States government under Donald Trump is preparing to offer unaccompanied migrant teenagers a payment of $2,500 each if they agree to return to their home countries voluntarily, mainstream media reported on Saturday.
A leaked memo obtained by CNN revealed that the initiative, developed by the Department of Homeland Security, will initially focus on 17-year-olds and will require approval from an immigration judge before any repatriation can take place.
The funds, according to the document, will only be disbursed once the teenager arrives in their home country and are intended to support “reintegration efforts.”
The programme expands an existing voluntary return scheme that currently provides undocumented adults with $1,000 “exit bonuses” if they choose to leave the US on their own accord.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials described the move as a cost-effective measure compared to detaining minors or undergoing lengthy deportation proceedings.
“This programme is strictly voluntary and allows minors to make an informed decision about their future,” an ICE spokesperson said.
As of October 2, official figures show about 2,100 unaccompanied minors remain in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, awaiting placement or immigration hearings.
The plan has already sparked criticism from immigration and human rights advocates, who argue that offering money to vulnerable minors to encourage their departure could breach existing U.S. immigration protections.
“There is no legitimate reason for the government to incentivise voluntary departure with a financial payoff,” said Neha Desai of the National Centre for Youth Law.
Desai condemned the proposal, calling it “a troubling precedent” that undermines the moral and legal obligations of the United States toward migrant children.
Observers say the new policy aligns with Trump’s broader hard-line immigration stance as he continues to push for more aggressive border controls ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
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