Facing Trump Crackdown, Illegal Migrants Opt for Self-Deportation

Trump’s mass deportation policy and mega-prison deal spur foreign nationals to voluntarily leave U.S.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

With President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown fully underway, thousands of illegal migrants are increasingly opting to leave the United States voluntarily, fearing imminent arrest or forced deportation to one of the world’s most notorious mega-prisons in El Salvador.

In cities like Denver—currently the top destination per capita for illegal migrants—many foreign nationals are signaling their intent to self-deport, citing the administration’s aggressive enforcement stance. A report from the New York Timeshighlights the shift in migrant sentiment since Trump returned to office.

Christian, a 29-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker living in Denver, told the outlet his outlook changed “360 degrees” under the Trump administration. “I just hope to manage to leave before they deport me,” another Venezuelan named Jesus said. He arrived in the U.S. in 2024 and, after a period in detention, now prefers returning home voluntarily rather than face incarceration again.

This new wave of self-deportation comes after the Biden administration’s immigration system had permitted millions to remain under expanded asylum rules, including the CBP One app and Safe Mobility Offices. Trump has since dismantled or defunded those programs.

More than 18 million illegal migrants are now estimated to reside in the U.S., following more than 8.5 million border encounters during the Biden presidency. Fiscal years 2023 and 2024 marked the two highest years on record for illegal crossings, according to Customs and Border Protection data.

After securing a second term in a landslide election victory—due in large part to pledges to curb illegal immigration—Trump took rapid action. His administration deployed troops to the southern border, pressured Canada and Mexico to increase security efforts, and designated violent groups such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations.

Interior enforcement has also intensified. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already apprehended tens of thousands of illegal migrants in early 2025 alone, with many arrests involving violent criminals and gang members.

A key part of Trump’s crackdown is a deal with El Salvador brokered by the administration allowing deported criminal aliens to be held at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a fortress-like mega-prison capable of housing 40,000 inmates. Known for its harsh conditions, CECOT has become a major deterrent among migrant communities.

Amid growing fear, the administration introduced the CBP Home app—an overhaul of the CBP One platform—which now includes a self-deportation feature.

“The Biden Administration exploited the CBP One app to allow more than 1 million aliens to illegally enter the United States,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. “With the launching of the CBP Home app, we are restoring integrity to our immigration system.”

Noem emphasized that the app allows migrants to leave voluntarily, potentially preserving a path for future legal entry. “If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return,” she warned.

One notable use of the app came from Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student whose visa was revoked after her involvement in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. She used the app to leave the U.S. voluntarily. Other instances of self-deportation have been recorded across the country, including in Chicago, Ohio, and Detroit.

In a striking example, a 23-year-old Venezuelan man walked into an ICE office in Detroit earlier this year and turned himself in, stating he needed to be detained or else feared he would commit crimes.

The growing trend of self-deportation marks a stark contrast from previous years. In 2012, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was ridiculed for suggesting the concept during a GOP debate, and critics dismissed it as unworkable.

But under Trump’s aggressive enforcement policies and the looming threat of incarceration in a Central American mega-prison, self-deportation is no longer hypothetical. It’s reality.