US President Donald Trump has introduced a new message for undocumented immigrants: accept financial assistance, leave the country, and there might be a chance to discuss your return at a later time. In an interview that aired on Tuesday, Donald Trump told Rachel Campos-Duffy of Fox Noticias that if he returns to office, his administration plans to introduce a “self-deportation program.” This initiative would offer financial incentives and possibly a legal way for people to return later.

Referring to the plan, Trump said, “We’re going to give them a stipend,” according to the official transcript of the interview recorded on Monday. He stated,  “We’re going to give them some money and a plane ticket, 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.”

This more lenient tone shifts from Trump’s usual hardline position on immigration. The White House hasn’t yet provided details about how the plan will function, who will be eligible, or when it will be rolled out. However, the focus seems to be on deporting individuals with criminal backgrounds while offering a return path for those considered “model” immigrants. The proposal also includes an appeal to industries facing labour shortages. Trump mentioned that migrants who leave under the program could return to work in the agriculture and hospitality sectors. He described the idea as “very soothing,” particularly for farmers and hotels dependent on immigrant workers.

“We’re doing a self-deportation, and we’re going to make it comfortable for people,” he stated. “And we’re going to work with those people to come back into our country legally.” During an interview, Trump was shown a video of a Mexican man who had lived in the U.S. without documentation for over two decades and had children who were American citizens. The man supported Trump’s stance, especially on deporting criminals. In response, Trump said, “I look at this man. I say this is a guy that we want to keep… I’ll probably take heat for saying it.” When asked whether the man could be deported, Trump replied, “I don’t think he’s in any danger of it.”

Trump had promised to deport a record number of undocumented immigrants if he were re-elected, and his administration has already attracted attention for encouraging immigrants to assist in their removal voluntarily. It has introduced a new technology, the CBP Home app, which allows migrants to indicate their intention to leave the country.