The Latin American Report # 497

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The Trump administration introduced a new initiative this Monday in its effort to deport tens of thousands of immigrants. Now from the department led by the beautiful and well-preserved Kristi Noem it is announced that those immigrants who agree to self-deport through the CBP Home app—formerly CBP One—would receive financial assistance to fly out of the United States and a $1,000 bonus. According to the narrative proposed by the White House, those who decide to leave following this "good way” have several incentives, starting with the fact that they would no longer be a priority for immigration authorities who are on the hunt for illegal immigrants, and would have the doors open to return to the United States at another opportunity as long as they are “good people” and “love [America]”.

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” the DHS head said. “DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App.” However, one expert consulted by AP posits that the Trump team's proposal cannot be taken lightly. Aaron Reichlen-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, says that especially those who are right now in removal proceedings could face consequences if they leave the country without fighting their cases in court. To dispel this doubt, Reichlen-Melnick thinks, there should be at least some indication that the administration is coordinating its initiative with the courts.

Trump's tough approach to immigration succeeded in stopping in its tracks the immigration wave that for the past several years has moved tens of thousands of souls northward. Yet a small boat capsized early in the morning off San Diego's coast yesterday, with the sad result of three fatalities, presumably immigrants. With the land border “sealed”, the human smuggling industry is betting on the maritime route transporting their “merchandise” in single or twin-engine open fishing boats called pangas. As a result of this capsizing, authorities confirmed four injured and nine missing, of which it is not known if any made it to land. Mexico has been quite cooperative with Donald Trump's anti-immigration strategy, although there have recently been new disagreements over President Claudia Sheinbaum's refusal to accept joint raids against drug trafficking, which Trump projected as an act of cowardice.