President Donald Trump is preparing to launch a self-deportation initiative that would pay illegal immigrants to voluntarily leave the country, a move aimed at accelerating removals amid mounting pressure from his base and fierce resistance from the Left.
“We’re doing a self-deportation [program], and we’re going to make it comfortable for people,” Trump told Fox News’ Spanish-language division. “We’re going to give him a stipend, we’re going to give him some money and a plane ticket… 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.”
The comments come as some conservative allies grow frustrated with what they view as a slower-than-promised pace of deportations. GOP officials like Florida’s Anthony Sabatini have publicly demanded answers. “Almost no one is being deported,” he posted. “We need answers.”
Trump’s plan would allow migrants to exit voluntarily, with some financial assistance, and potentially apply to return legally. Immigration expert Mark Krikorian said the concept isn’t inherently bad, but must be weighed carefully: “How much is too much to get people to leave? How big a share of people returning is too big?”
But not all voices on the right are on board. William Gheen of ALIPAC blasted the proposal, comparing it to amnesty schemes from establishment Republicans. “This form of amnesty directly contradicts and undermines his promise of mass deportations,” Gheen warned.
Despite the criticism, Trump is taking aggressive steps to fulfill his broader immigration agenda. His top immigration aide Stephen Miller has exposed that over 15 million illegal migrants entered the country under Joe Biden. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has pegged the true number at 21 million.
Trump’s team is reviving long-dormant enforcement tools: canceling Social Security Numbers, militarizing the border, coordinating with state and local agencies, and pressing federal agencies to cancel visas and enforce registration laws.
At the same time, working-class Americans—especially white-collar employees—are sounding the alarm about the effects of mass migration and the disastrous H-1B visa system. Trump allies say it’s not just illegal immigration that’s undercutting American jobs—it’s legal loopholes exploited by globalist corporations.
Eric Ruark of NumbersUSA said Trump’s base should keep the pressure on: “Trump needs a barometer to gauge what he’s doing… He should be grateful [for protests] because his legacy is going to be how well he delivered on promises.”
Despite the backlash, Trump emphasized that the top priority remains the removal of criminal illegals. “We have our total aim on very bad ones,” he said. “We had 11,088 murderers. Half of them killed more than one person.”
Trump’s plan shows a calculated shift—one that tries to balance swift enforcement with tactical relief valves—but it also sets up a critical test with his most loyal voters. Will this softer edge help clean up Biden’s immigration disaster, or risk compromising the America First promise?
