US Offers Migrant Teens $2,500 to Voluntarily Leave Country
The Trump administration is launching a new program that will offer $2,500 to unaccompanied migrant teenagers if they voluntarily agree to leave the United States. According to a report, the initiative will start with 17-year-olds and requires approval from an immigration judge. The payment would be issued after the teen arrives in their home country to aid with "reintegration." An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson stated the program is "strictly voluntary" and allows minors to make an "informed decision." The administration already offers a smaller "exit bonus" to adults who choose self-deportation. However, the policy has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant advocates. They argue that offering money to children undermines legal protections for vulnerable youth and could pressure them to return to dangerous conditions in their home countries.