(The Center Square) – Houston, the largest city closest to the border, where federal agents are actively targeting illegal foreign nationals for removal, was the first city where charter flights have begun removing groups of illegal foreign nationals who choose to self-deport.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced charter flights left Houston for Honduras and Colombia on Monday, repatriating 64 illegal foreign nationals.
Those who returned to their home countries included individuals and families with young children and babies. They received travel assistance, a $1,000 stipend, “and preserved the possibility they could one day return to the United States legally,” DHS said when posting a video of smiling children being given stuffed animals before they boarded their flight.
Today, DHS conducted the first Project Homecoming charter flight from Houston, TX, to Honduras and Colombia, bringing 64 participants who opted to self-deport back to their home countries.All participants were offered the same benefits as any illegal alien who self-deports… pic.twitter.com/r0uAFejUVh
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 19, 2025
The charter flights were “one of the first actions the Department has taken to fulfill President Trump’s recent proclamation to create Project Homecoming,” DHS said.
Earlier this month, DHS announced it was offering $1,000 stipends, funding repatriation flights and travel assistance for those who voluntarily self deport to their home country, The Center Square reported.
The charter flights are separate from those self-deporting using the CBP Home App but those who use the app receive the stipend and travel assistance, DHS says.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is encouraging self-deportation, saying, “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App. This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers. Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport.”
The charter flights were not part of an enforcement action by U.S. Customs and Immigration, which has been making large scale arrests in the Houston area targeting violent criminals. One recent operation nabbed 422 illegal foreign nationals, including 296 with criminal convictions, and deported 528, The Center Square reported.
Another ICE operation resulted in 174 deported to Mexico whose combined previous deportations totaled 415, The Center Square reported. Of the worst 100 criminal foreign nationals deported nationwide highlighted by the White House, the most were arrested by ICE Houston agents, The Center Square reported.
Those self-deporting on one charter flight included 38 Hondurans who “were warmly welcomed by their home government and family members,” DHS said. “They also benefited from the Honduran government’s ‘Hermano, Hermana, Vuelve a Casa’ program, which includes an additional $100 bonus for people over 18, food vouchers, and assistance in finding employment.”
On another were 26 Colombians who were also “welcomed back by their families and representatives of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Migration Colombia,” DHS said. The Colombian government is also providing social services from its Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) and its Department of Social Prosperity.
Countries receiving their citizens is a reversal of Biden administration policies. Under the Biden administration, the former vice president and DHS secretary visited foreign countries to “discuss the root causes of migration” and facilitate expedited illegal entry through a range of parole programs and taxpayer flights into the country.
Under the Trump administration those policies were terminated and Noem visited foreign leaders to discuss expedited removal and repatriation. The Trump administration also negotiated other countries paying for the repatriation flights and brokered a deal with El Salvador to send violent criminals to its maximum-security prison.
Noem continues to advocate for self-deportation, saying, “If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home.
“If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return. If you are in this country illegally, self-deport NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal, right way.”
This article was originally published at www.thecentersquare.com
