Critics of Donald Trump have been are spewing predictable outrage at his aggressive America First programs to clean up the country’s illegal immigration problems. His latest move is likely to have his naysayers hyperventilating: paying illegal aliens to self-deport from the United States. Despite the predictable fury from activists, it’s actually a smart, effective solution to what many called an unfixable problem. 

The Trump White House’s latest tool for immigration enforcement—offering illegal aliens free commercial flights and a $1,000 stipend to self-deport—marks a seismic shift in addressing the nation’s illegal immigration crisis. This initiative, which utilizes the repurposed CBP Home app, stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s policies, which facilitated the entry of millions of illegal aliens, burdening taxpayers with astronomical costs. Trump’s plan is likely to save billions in taxpayer dollars, restore order, and prioritize national security. How many government programs do anything close to that?

Under Biden’s absentee landlord approach to immigration enforcement, the U.S. saw an unprecedented surge in illegal border crossings, with over 10 million illegal aliens encountered by federal agents at the U.S.-Mexico border in the last four years. The administration’s use of the CBP One app allowed approximately 40,000 migrants per month to schedule appointments at border ports of entry, effectively streamlining their entry into the country.

Additionally, Biden’s expansion of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) shielded over 1.4 million foreign nationals from deportation, nearly quadrupling the program’s scope from the 410,000 beneficiaries at the end of Trump’s first term. The Biden team also operated domestic commercial flights and bus services to transport migrants into the U.S. interior, further embedding them into communities at taxpayer expense.

The financial toll of these policies is staggering. Illegal immigration costs U.S. taxpayers $151 billion annually, with $182 billion spent on services like education, healthcare, and housing, offset by only $31 billion in taxes paid by illegal aliens. Feeding, housing, and educating millions of illegals, many of whom entered under Biden’s lax enforcement, has strained local governments, schools, and healthcare systems.

New York City alone spent tens of millions housing migrants in luxury hotels under Biden, a contract Trump’s administration swiftly terminated. These costs are unsustainable, diverting resources from American citizens and legal residents.

By contrast, Trump’s self-deportation program is a cost-saving masterstroke. Traditional deportations cost approximately $17,000 per person, factoring in detention, legal proceedings, and removal flights. The self-deportation plan slashes this to around $4,500 per individual—a 70 percent reduction—by covering a commercial flight and providing a $1,000 stipend.

Since March 2025, over 5,000 illegal aliens have voluntarily departed using the CBP Home app, saving taxpayers millions compared to forced removals. The Department of Homeland Security estimates this approach could save up to $1 million per alien family, a significant relief for a nation grappling with the fiscal consequences of Biden’s policies.

The program also sends a clear message: Illegal presence in the U.S. will not be tolerated. The administration’s multimillion-dollar ad campaign, coupled with fines of $998 per day for those who overstay deportation orders, reinforces this deterrent. Unlike Biden’s policies, which encouraged mass migration by offering pathways to remain, Trump’s approach discourages illegal entry while providing a dignified exit for those willing to comply.

Trump’s plan also aligns with public sentiment. Polls show widespread support for stronger border security and deportation, with 54 percent of Americans in 2024 citing increased deportations as a key policy goal. By reducing illegal border encounters by 95 percent and “gotaways” by 99 percent, Trump has already delivered a more secure border. Self-deportation complements these efforts, offering a humane alternative to detention while preserving opportunities for legal immigration in the future, as the administration’s flyer promises.

As with border wall construction, critics may argue that we can’t afford the cost of self-deportation. This overlooks the pragmatic reality: self-deportation is far cheaper than the alternative. Biden’s anti-border policies invited chaos, costing taxpayers billions and overwhelming communities. Trump’s initiative, by contrast, is a calculated move to restore order and fiscal sanity. Encouraging self-deportation is not mean-spirited or xenophobic. It prioritizes American taxpayers, reduces strain on public services, and upholds the rule of law. If only more government policies did that.