Unaccompanied migrant children in government custody are being offered $3,000 to self-deport, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. The offer is extended to minors aged 14 and older who have no gang affiliations.
This marks a $500 increase from the incentive offered last year, when the Trump administration provided $2,500 to eligible minors as part of its immigration enforcement measures. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Secretary Markwayne Mullin is leading efforts to protect these children from exploitation.
Attorneys and advocates report that the Department of Homeland Security began offering the $3,000 incentive earlier this month. They also note that this initiative coincides with an increased focus by the administration on deporting unaccompanied children.
Previously, the federal government had relied on immigration advocacy groups to provide legal representation for migrant children. However, the administration recently formed its own team of government attorneys for this purpose after severing ties with several advocacy organizations.
Immigration advocacy groups have voiced concerns about this shift, arguing that the same government pursuing deportation should not also be responsible for representing the children in court. A DHS spokesperson countered that many unaccompanied children were placed with sponsors who turned out to be smugglers or sex traffickers. The spokesperson added that, unlike the previous administration, the Trump administration takes the responsibility of protecting children seriously and will continue working with law enforcement to reunite children with their families.