US DHS voluntary departure program for migrant minors

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented a program offering financial incentives to unaccompanied migrant children to encourage voluntary departure from the United States. The current stipend is $3,000, an increase from the $2,500 offered in 2025.

DHS officials state the incentive is intended for minors aged 14 or older who are in government custody and have no known gang affiliations. Secretary Markwayne Mullin described the initiative as an effort to “rescue children and prevent their exploitation by smugglers and traffickers.”

The program has faced significant criticism from legal experts and advocacy groups. Concerns have been raised regarding the government’s decision to provide its own legal representation for children after cutting ties with previous advocacy groups, with critics arguing the government should not act as both the entity seeking deportation and the legal representative. Additionally, while official criteria specify a minimum age of 14, legal representatives have reported that offers are being extended to much younger children, including those aged five and eleven. Experts have questioned the ability of such young children to provide meaningful consent and the potential impact on future immigration claims.