Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is proposing an amnesty initiative that would offer renewable work visas to millions of illegal immigrants residing in the United States.
The announcement comes in direct response to the Trump administration’s newly launched self-deportation program, unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this week.
On Monday, DHS announced the rollout of a voluntary self-deportation initiative that allows illegal immigrants to register for removal using the CBP Home mobile app.
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Participants who follow through with leaving the country will receive a $1,000 stipend and free transportation to their country of origin.
The administration says the program aims to reduce deportation costs and encourage illegal aliens to depart without the need for detention or legal proceedings.
🚨 BREAKING: The Trump administration is today announcing they will pay illegal aliens to self-deport on commercial flights.
The flight will be paid for, plus a $1,000 stipend.
The price of deportation is normally $17,000 – under this system, it would be $4,500, savings of 70… pic.twitter.com/RUBzsIeQUK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 5, 2025
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“This initiative is about restoring integrity to the immigration system while reducing taxpayer costs,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said during the announcement.
The program mirrors similar efforts in countries such as Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, which have reported success in reducing illegal immigration through voluntary return programs that incentivize departure.
DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App.
If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. pic.twitter.com/IFBFYGB0jA
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 5, 2025
In response to the Trump administration’s effort, Sen. Gallego offered an alternative approach focused on granting legal status to those already in the country illegally.
Writing on X, Gallego said, “Why don’t we make them pay a $5k fine, go through a background check, and give them a work visa for a few years, renewable with good behavior.”
Why don’t we make them pay a $5k fine, go through a background check and give them a work visa for a few years, renewable with good behavior. https://t.co/9xobe9oF1N
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 5, 2025
Gallego’s proposal would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the United States legally on renewable work permits, expanding the U.S. labor force by millions of individuals.
Critics argue that such a plan would overwhelm the labor market and depress wages for American workers.
While Gallego and other Democrats continue to oppose deportations, including for those with criminal backgrounds, recent polling indicates that public sentiment is moving in the opposite direction.
A CBS News poll released earlier this month showed that 56 percent of American adults support President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, including locating, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants.
Additionally, an Echelon Insights survey found strong backing for Trump’s immigration policies among moderate swing voters.
Jeremy Carl, who authored the survey, posted on X: “The voters in the middle that we need to win on immigration are being turned off by the Democrats’ radicalism in attempting to stop the deportations of gang members, drug dealers, and human traffickers. Trump’s immigration policy [among reachable swing voters] is more popular than ever.”
The self-deportation program launched by DHS is expected to scale in the coming weeks, with early flights already underway.
DHS officials have confirmed that the program will prioritize cost-efficiency and voluntary compliance, estimating that it could reduce enforcement costs by up to 70 percent compared to traditional deportation proceedings.
As immigration policy remains a central issue heading into the 2026 midterms, the divide between the Trump administration’s enforcement strategy and the Democratic Party’s push for legalization continues to widen.
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