A new federal memo has revealed that the Trump administration is offering unaccompanied migrant children $2,500 each to voluntarily leave the United States and return to their countries of origin. The policy, confirmed by NBC News, targets minors aged 14 and above who are currently held in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The memo, distributed on Friday to legal service providers representing unaccompanied minors nationwide, described the offer as a reintegration incentive for those who choose to “self-deport.” It emphasized that the payment is meant to assist with the children’s reintegration into their home communities.
“The stipend is designed to support reintegration efforts after voluntary departures,” the notice stated.
According to the document, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has already identified minors who have expressed interest in voluntary departure or intend to file such requests.
Voluntary Return or Pressure Tactics?
While federal officials have defended the measure as a voluntary option, immigration advocates have condemned it as coercive and unethical.
Emily Covington, assistant director of ICE’s Office of Public Affairs, clarified in a statement that the program “gives unaccompanied minors a choice and ensures they can make an informed decision about their future.” She added that payments would be made only after a judge grants the child’s voluntary departure and upon their arrival in their home country.
However, advocacy organizations and child protection groups expressed alarm.
Wendy Young, president of Kids in Need of Defense, said the plan undermines U.S. laws designed to safeguard vulnerable children from trafficking and violence.
“Unaccompanied minors should never be removed without a full and fair legal process,” Young said. “This initiative erodes our country’s moral and legal commitment to protecting vulnerable children.”
Growing Concern Among Immigrant Communities
The initiative has sparked widespread concern across immigrant communities, particularly after reports emerged that the program was internally nicknamed “Freaky Friday”—a label ICE officials have denied using.
In Nebraska, Roxana Cortés-Mills of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement said her organization has received panicked calls from local schools and parents worried about the policy’s implications.
“In my nine years of working with unaccompanied minors, I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said.
Similarly, Dalia Castillo-Granados, director of the Children’s Immigration Law Academy in Houston, described the offer as deeply troubling. “These children are already in an extremely vulnerable position,” she said. “Offering them money to self-deport raises serious ethical concerns.”
Part of a Wider Deportation Push
The plan appears to align with the Trump administration’s broader strategy to encourage self-deportation among undocumented immigrants. A separate program reportedly offers $1,000 to adults and families who agree to leave voluntarily.
Over 300,000 unaccompanied minors have entered the U.S. since the Biden administration took office, many released to relatives or sponsors while awaiting immigration hearings. As of August, the federal government still held 2,011 unaccompanied minors in HHS custody.
While prior administrations—Democratic and Republican alike—have deported unaccompanied minors, this is the first known instance of offering financial incentives to encourage them to leave voluntarily.
Legal experts warn that such offers could violate child protection laws and international humanitarian standards.
“Pressuring minors to self-deport through financial means sets a dangerous precedent,” said Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “It’s troubling to see tactics designed for adults now being applied to children.”
The memo’s revelation has ignited a new chapter in America’s ongoing debate over border security, immigration ethics, and the treatment of migrant children.
