The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on Monday that it has introduced a "self-deportation" option in its mobile app. This move is part of President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at tightening immigration enforcement. The new feature allows undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the country, helping them avoid stricter penalties.

According to the Washington Post, interim CBP Commissioner Pete Flores described the new tool as "a straightforward way to declare their intent to voluntarily depart" and stated that undocumented immigrants now have "a chance to leave before facing harsher consequences." The CBP Home app, formerly called CBP One, now features a button that allows users to submit a self-deportation plan. Under President Joe Biden's administration, the app was previously used to help asylum seekers schedule appointments at ports of entry. According to a statement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem, "Those who self-deport may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream." She continued, "If they don't, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return."

The updated app is part of a $200 million campaign by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called "Stay Out and Leave Now." As part of this campaign, DHS has released ads featuring images of people identified as undocumented immigrants arrested for various crimes. In one of the ads, Noem praises Trump for "securing our border" and criticises "weak politicians" for contributing to the rise in "drugs, human trafficking, and violent criminals." In 2024, the final year of President Biden's term, illegal crossings at the US- Mexico border dropped by over 80%. This decrease was linked to Biden's administration implementing stricter border controls while also expanding legal entry options.

In January, former President Trump issued an executive order instructing agencies to identify undocumented immigrants, establish detention centres and impose fines on those assisting them to stay in the US. The order also directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create policies that encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the country voluntarily as soon as possible. As a result of that order, CBP cancelled all appointments scheduled through its app for individuals seeking humanitarian entry or other legal access to the United States.