Trump Launches First-Ever Self-Deportation Program: “BOOK YOUR FREE FLIGHT RIGHT NOW!”; CBP Home App, Exit Bonus; Plus “Winning Week” Roundup

President Trump signed the executive order launching the first-ever self-deportation program in May 2025, announcing: “We are making it as easy as possible for illegal aliens to leave America. Any illegal alien can simply show up at an airport and receive a free flight out of our country. We have also launched a phone app called CBP Home where illegals can book a free flight to any foreign country.” The program includes an “exit bonus” to further incentivize compliance. Those who refuse face “significant jail time, enormous financial penalties, confiscation of all property, garnishment of all wages, imprisonment, and sudden deportation in a place and manner solely of our discretion.” Press Secretary Leavitt’s weekly MAGA Minute capped the roundup: NFL Draft DC 2027, Carney meeting, UK trade deal, Gilead/Merck/LEGO investments, Alcatraz reopening, Houthi ceasefire, NIH beagle testing ended, Gulf of America, Middle East trip.

”Book Your Free Flight Right Now”

Trump’s announcement was direct and incentive-driven.

“Today I signed an executive order to launch the first-ever self-deportation program for illegal aliens,” Trump said.

He described the mechanics: “We are making it as easy as possible for illegal aliens to leave America. Any illegal alien can simply show up at an airport and receive a free flight out of our country.”

He announced the technology: “We have also launched a phone app called CBP Home. That’s CBP Home, where illegals can book a free flight to any foreign country. As long as it’s not here, you can go anywhere you want.”

He described the financial incentive: “We’re also adding a very important exit bonus for illegals to further incentivize their self-deportation. This deportation bonus will save American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars.”

He stated the fiscal case: “What Biden did to this country can never be explained, will never ever be accepted. Eventually when the illegals are gone, it will save us trillions of dollars.”

The CBP Home app was an innovation that made self-deportation as convenient as booking a rideshare. Illegal immigrants could open an app, select a destination, and receive a free flight — plus a cash bonus — with minimal government interaction. The simplicity was the point. If the process was easier than the alternative (living in hiding, risking raids, paying cartel smugglers for return passage), the economic calculation would drive compliance.

The exit bonus was the genius stroke. Traditional deportation required the government to spend thousands per person on detention, processing, and transportation. By offering a fraction of that cost directly to the deportee as an exit bonus, the program saved money while accelerating departure. The immigrant received more money than they would have earned during the time government enforcement would have taken to remove them; the government spent less money than enforcement would have cost. Both parties came out ahead financially.

The Alternative: Severe Consequences

Trump made the cost of non-compliance clear.

“If illegal aliens choose to remain in America, they’re remaining illegally, and they will face severe consequences,” Trump said.

He listed the punishments:

“Significant jail time.”

“Enormous financial penalties.”

“Confiscation of all property.”

“Garnishment of all wages.”

“Imprisonment and incarceration.”

“Sudden deportation in a place and manner solely of our discretion.”

He delivered the call to action: “So to all illegal aliens, book your free flight right now. We want you out of America, but if you’re really good, we’re going to try and help you get back in.”

The combination of carrot and stick was the program’s core design. The carrot — free flight, exit bonus, possible future legal return — was generous. The stick — property confiscation, wage garnishment, imprisonment, “sudden deportation in a place and manner solely of our discretion” — was severe.

The “place and manner solely of our discretion” language was particularly ominous. Deported individuals might be sent not just to their country of origin but to any country willing to accept them. This introduced radical uncertainty into the calculation of remaining illegally. An illegal immigrant from Mexico might find themselves deported to El Salvador’s CECOT. A Chinese national might be sent to a third country with less favorable conditions than China. The unpredictability made self-deportation comparatively attractive.

The promise that “if you’re really good, we’re going to try and help you get back in” preserved hope for those who complied voluntarily. Self-deportees who wanted to legally return to the United States would receive priority consideration. Those who refused and were forcibly removed would lose any path to future legal immigration.

Leavitt’s MAGA Minute

Press Secretary Leavitt delivered her weekly recap from the Rose Garden.

“Happy Friday, and it’s time for the MAGA Minute here in the beautiful Rose Garden thanks to our beautiful First Lady,” Leavitt opened.

She ran through the week’s accomplishments in rapid succession:

“On Monday, President Trump announced the 2027 NFL Draft will be held right here in Washington, D.C.”

“The president hosted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House.”

“He met with freed Russian American Valorina Karelina.”

“President Trump and the First Lady hosted an event honoring military mothers.”

“President Trump struck a historic trade deal with the United Kingdom, unlocking $5 billion worth of export opportunities and $6 billion in additional external revenue.”

She listed the corporate investments: “Major companies like Gilead, Invenergy, Merck, LEGO, Hotpack, Bristol Myers Squibb, and many other companies committed billions of dollars in investments in the United States.”

She continued: “The president announced plans to reopen the famous Alcatraz prison to house the most ruthless and violent criminals in our country.”

“The administration launched a program to incentivize self-deportation for illegal aliens.”

“The administration reached a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen.”

“The administration also announced that all experiments on beagles on NIH campuses have been terminated.”

“The House of Representatives took steps to pass a bill to codify President Trump’s Gulf of America Executive Order.”

“The president will be heading to Saudi Arabia next week to help strengthen ties with Middle Eastern countries.”

She closed: “That’s it for this week. Next week, we will be coming to you live from the Middle East. And lastly, happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers out there across our country.”

The Rose Garden setting — which Melania had been responsible for renovating — provided a fitting backdrop. The pace of the MAGA Minute — twelve major accomplishments in a single week — reflected the operational tempo that had characterized the second term since inauguration.

Key Takeaways

• Trump launched first-ever self-deportation program with CBP Home app: “Book your free flight right now. We want you out of America.”
• Self-deporters receive: free flight + exit bonus + potential future return pathway. Refusers face: jail, fines, property confiscation, wage garnishment.
• “If you’re really good, we’re going to try and help you get back in” — incentive for voluntary compliance.
• Leavitt’s Winning Week roundup: NFL Draft 2027, Carney, UK deal, corporate investments, Alcatraz, Houthi ceasefire, NIH beagle testing ended.
• Middle East trip next week to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar.