DHS Launches CBP Home App with Self-Deportation Feature

“The app gives the option to leave now and self-deport (...) If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return,” Kristi Noem said.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new feature within its CBP Home mobile application that allows individuals residing in the U.S. without legal status to report their intent to leave the country voluntarily. The feature, announced today by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, is part of a broader effort to streamline immigration enforcement and resource allocation.

According to DHS, the self-deportation option aims to provide a safer departure process while also conserving government resources. The agency states that by utilizing this feature, individuals may facilitate their own return to their home countries without the need for formal enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The self-deportation function is being introduced as part of a $200 million domestic and international public awareness campaign titled “Stay Out and Leave Now,” which DHS says is designed to discourage unauthorized migration. The newly launched CBP Home app is available for free on mobile application stores and will replace all existing CBP One applications through an automatic update.

In a statement, Secretary Noem framed the initiative as a measure to enhance immigration system integrity, referencing past concerns over the CBP One app’s role in processing asylum seekers at the border. She described the new feature as an opportunity for individuals to depart voluntarily, potentially preserving eligibility for future legal immigration.

“The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return,” Noem said.

The introduction of this feature is expected to prompt discussions among immigration advocates, policymakers, and legal experts about its implications and effectiveness. DHS has not yet provided details on how the program will be monitored or what measures will be in place to track voluntary departures.