• The Trump administration is offering $1,000 stipends and travel assistance to unauthorized immigrants who agree to return to their countries of origin.
• "This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for U.S. taxpayers," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
• DHS said a Honduran immigrant living in Chicago had already used the program successfully, and had been flown to his home country and given the stipend.

The is now offering  and travel assistance to undocumented immigrants who volunteer to depart the for their countries of origin.

"If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest," Secretary said in a statement Monday.

"This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for U.S. taxpayers," said Noem.

"Self-deportation" is the Trump administration's term for returning to your home country if you do not have explicit authorization to live in the U.S.

DHS said it currently costs, on average, $17,121 to arrest, detain and remove an undocumented immigrant.

In a Monday interview with Fox News, border czar Tom Homan said the program will save costs and relieve "resources to focus more on the criminals."

"It's going to be extreme cost savings, first of all, for the right people, and I think it's going to help remove those that want to come back under a legal program," Homan said.

The program requires immigrants to use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's "Home" app, which had previously served as a portal to access the U.S. asylum system under the Biden administration.

says users will receive a $1,000 stipend only after their arrival in their country of origin is confirmed through the app.

Crucially, DHS also said immigrants who sign up for the departure program will be "deprioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure."

It may also help to "keep the door open for legal immigration into the U.S. at a later date," according to the announcement.

"We can work with you and get you to leave, or we'll come find you and we'll remove you based on our schedule and our standards," Homan said.

The agency said the new program has already been used by one person who left Chicago to return to Honduras.