US government offers $2,600 ‘exit bonus’ to Jamaicans for voluntary departure

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a high-visibility social media campaign specifically designed to reach undocumented Jamaicans living in the U.S., with an offer of a $2,600 “exit bonus” and free airfare to return home.

The advertisements, which have appeared extensively on platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), use nostalgic travel-poster aesthetics and phrases such as “Fly to Jamaica for Free” to encourage voluntary departure. This effort is part of a broader $200 million global marketing strategy under the Trump administration’s “Project Homecoming,” which has deployed similar targeted ads for undocumented nationals from India, Mexico, and Guatemala.

The program addresses a significant demographic within the United States. According to 2023 data from the Center for Migration Studies, there are approximately 87,300 undocumented Jamaican nationals currently residing in the U.S. These individuals form part of a larger Caribbean undocumented population estimated at 473,000.

Most Jamaican nationals in the U.S. are concentrated in Florida and New York, states that are now seeing an influx of these specific DHS advertisements. Nationally, the undocumented population in the U.S. reached a record 14 million by mid-2025, prompting the current administration to seek more cost-effective removal methods.

Under the direction of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the “exit bonus” was increased on January 21, 2026, from an initial $1,000 to the current $2,600. The department claims that a “self-deportation” managed through the newly launched CBP Home app costs the U.S. taxpayer approximately $5,100 per person. In contrast, a traditional enforced removal is estimated to cost $18,245.

To participate, individuals must download the CBP Home app—which replaced the previous CBP One interface—and submit a “selfie” along with basic biographical details. Once vetted, participants are promised “DHS Airlines” travel arrangements within 21 days and the forgiveness of any civil fines related to their immigration status.

The Jamaican campaign is not an isolated effort. DHS has already reported that tens of thousands of individuals have utilized the app globally, contributing to what the department claims is a total of 2.2 million voluntary departures since January 2025.

The administration has framed the program as a “gift” and a “dignified return,” though its primary function remains the rapid reduction of the undocumented population through financial persuasion. For those who choose not to utilize the app, Secretary Noem has warned of “strict enforcement and penalties,” including permanent bans on future re-entry to the United States.