Scoop: First flight leaves U.S. under Trump's $1,000 "self-deport" deal

[Tennessee Hillbilly]

Source: Axios

The Trump administration's first charter flight for dozens of "self-deporting" immigrants took off from Houston early Monday, part of a new program offering them a free trip back home and $1,000 — or else.

Monday's flight left Houston about 9:30 a.m. and took 65 people from Honduras and Colombia to their respective home countries, according to a Department of Homeland Security official.

To participate in the program, the immigrants logged into the CBP Home App and requested to be voluntarily flown home in return for the free trip and $1,000 after they land, the Homeland Security official said.


Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/05/19/self-deportation-flights-1000-dollars

[bluestarone]

1. WE are supposed to trust that they volunteered?

I DON'T. No fucking way!

[bucolic_frolic]

2. That's a really bad loook

almost like everyone has their price.

[EarlG]

3. $1000 AFTER they land

And we all know how good Trump is about paying people

[IronLionZion]

4. Better than an ICE detention facility or Salvadoran prison

is what these folks are likely thinking.

[pimpbot]

5. is there a limit to how many flights you can take?

They are probably on their way back to the border as we speak.

[IbogaProject]

6. There is some kind of contract

I bet it involves some kind of promise to not return without authorization. But who knows if this circus actually made a binding agreement.

[Tennessee Hillbilly]

7. Update: Some of these self deportees were children

Quote:
In the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, 38 Hondurans, including 19 children, disembarked from the charter flight carrying $1,000 debit cards from the U.S. government and the offer to one day be allowed to apply for legal entry into the U.S.

Twenty-six more migrants aboard the flight were headed home to Colombia, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement.


Link:
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5404343/us-honduras-colombia-voluntary-deportation

[timms139]

8. Would be nice if

they could get Republicans to deport for 5,000. It would cost more but be well worth the cost .