WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump said he plans to launch a new “self-deportation” initiative that would offer financial incentives and airfare to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the United States, marking a rare departure from his typically hardline stance on immigration enforcement.
In a taped interview with Fox Noticias aired Tuesday, Trump told host Rachel Campos-Duffy that his administration is focused on deporting violent criminals, but he hopes to create a pathway for others to leave the country comfortably — and potentially return legally.
“We’re going to give them a stipend, we’re going to give them some money and a plane ticket,” Trump said, according to an official transcript of the interview taped April 14. “And then we’re going to work with them. If they’re good, if we want them back in, we’re going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can.”
The president offered few specifics about the timeline or structure of the proposed program, but framed it as a humane option for non-criminal immigrants, a stark contrast to his campaign promise of mass deportations.
Trump’s comments came after Campos-Duffy shared a story about a Mexican man who entered the U.S. illegally more than two decades ago and now has American-born children. The man, whose legal status remains unclear, expressed support for Trump despite being unable to vote, saying he agreed that undocumented immigrants who commit crimes should be deported, including himself.
Trump praised the man during the interview, calling him an example of someone worth keeping in the country.
“I look at this man. I say, this is a guy that we want to keep,” Trump said. “I’ll probably take heat for saying it. I don’t think he’s in any danger of [deportation].”
Trump also acknowledged the labor shortages faced by industries such as agriculture and hospitality, suggesting his administration could help connect employers with legal workers in the future. “That would be very soothing to farmers,” he said, adding that he wants undocumented workers to leave the U.S. and return through legal channels, although he stopped short of detailing how that process might work.
The proposed self-deportation plan would be the latest in a string of immigration policies designed to encourage voluntary departures. Trump’s administration has already promoted the use of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection app, CBP Home, which allows migrants to signal their “intent to depart” to immigration authorities, The Associated Press reported.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has repeatedly vowed to carry out record levels of deportations and has tested the limits of U.S. law to step up enforcement. His latest comments, however, suggest a potential softening on some aspects of immigration policy as he seeks a second term in office.
A White House spokesman declined to elaborate on the president’s remarks, saying there was “nothing to add” beyond Trump’s statements to Fox Noticias.
For now, the administration’s focus remains on expelling immigrants convicted of violent crimes, but Trump’s comments hint at a broader plan aimed at offering incentives for others to depart on their terms — a move that could appeal to both immigration hardliners and business owners seeking a stable, legal workforce.
“We’re doing a self-deportation, and we’re going to make it comfortable for people,” Trump said. “And we’re going to work with those people to come back into our country legally.”
