Story perspectives

DHS Increases Exit Bonus Amid Intensified ICE Arrests

12/25/2025

Center

DHS Increases Migrant Incentives

The Department of Homeland Security raised the exit bonus for undocumented migrants from $1,000 to $3,000 through the end of 2025.
Eligible migrants can register via the CBP Home app and receive free airfare plus forgiveness of civil penalties.
ICE has intensified arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal records, framing them as a holiday gift to Americans for safer communities.
Critics say the approach resembles propaganda rather than professional communication.

Right

Trump's Immigration Crackdown

U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, requiring detention for illegal immigrants arrested for specified crimes.
In 2025, more than 17,500 arrests have been made under the act.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the end of Operation Angel’s Honor, with over 1,000 arrests in two weeks.
Nayna Gupta of the American Immigration Council says the law does not enhance safety and limits rights.

History

Historical Context

The Laken Riley Act, signed into law on January 29, 2025, mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants with criminal records, following the 2024 murder of nursing student Laken Riley by an illegal immigrant. This law echoes the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which aimed to deter undocumented immigration. Critics argue it undermines civil rights and fails to improve community safety.

1 of 3

DHS Increases Migrant Incentives

The Department of Homeland Security raised the exit bonus for undocumented migrants from $1,000 to $3,000 through the end of 2025.
Eligible migrants can register via the CBP Home app and receive free airfare plus forgiveness of civil penalties.
ICE has intensified arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal records, framing them as a holiday gift to Americans for safer communities.
Critics say the approach resembles propaganda rather than professional communication.

1 / 3