Trump Pushes Major Immigration Shift with "Project Homecoming" and 20,000 New Officers

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Trump Pushes Major Immigration Shift with "Project Homecoming" and 20,000 New Officers

 

In an escalation of his immigration agenda, Donald Trump has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to recruit at least 20,000 additional officers to carry out a sweeping new deportation strategy. This order, issued Friday, underpins the administration's effort to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the country voluntarily, a move Trump described as part of making it “as easy as possible” for them to exit the United States.

 

The newly unveiled plan includes government-funded flights for those who choose to self-deport, as well as financial incentives labeled as an "exit bonus." Though the executive order outlines the scale of the expansion, it does not clarify how the massive increase in DHS personnel will be funded.

 

Currently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the primary federal agency tasked with immigration enforcement, employs over 21,000 people. Within that workforce, there are 6,100 deportation officers and more than 750 enforcement removal assistants. The president’s directive would effectively double the number of staff involved in deportations, potentially altering the landscape of immigration enforcement in the U.S.

 

In addition to the federal hires, the order also urges DHS to enhance its reach by working with other levels of government. Specifically, it calls for the deputization and contracting of state and local law enforcement officers, former federal agents, and personnel from other federal agencies to support deportation efforts. Trump has consistently advocated for expanding the role of non-federal law enforcement and even the National Guard in immigration enforcement.

 

This new effort is encapsulated in what the Trump administration has branded “Project Homecoming,” a program focused on incentivized self-deportation. Those who choose to leave voluntarily can apply through a government app, CPB Home, and, according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, are eligible for a $1,000 bonus and paid travel expenses.

 

But while the administration accelerates voluntary departure incentives, it has faced legal setbacks with other deportation initiatives. Federal courts recently blocked the use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang activity. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez in Texas, appointed by Trump himself, ruled the action unlawful. A separate judge in New York later reached the same conclusion, delivering a blow to that component of the administration's broader strategy.

 

Despite these legal challenges, Trump continues to stress the consequences for those who remain in the U.S. without legal status. “Illegal aliens who stay in America face punishments, including significant jail time, enormous financial penalties, confiscation of all property, garnishment of all wages, imprisonment, and incarceration and sudden deportation, in a place, and manner, solely of our discretion,” Trump warned.

 

Trump's immigration plan signals a sharp return to hardline policies. With “Project Homecoming” at its center, the administration appears determined to reshape the nation's approach to undocumented immigrants through a mix of aggressive enforcement and strategic incentives.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC  2025-05-12