Immigrants Who Self-Deport from the US Can Verify Their Exit

App verifies exit of immigants who «self-deport» with geolocation
Facial recognition required
Trump promotes voluntary self-deportation

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new feature to its mobile application, CBP Home.

Starting now, immigrants who choose to leave the country voluntarily can verify their departure using geolocation data.

The app also allows users to upload their passport, travel documents, biographic information, and facial image.

Tricia McLaughlin, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS, explained that this feature will help confirm the individual’s physical location outside the US.

CBP Home Requires Users to Be Outside the Country to Verify Voluntary Departure

Cbp home, dhs, Immigrants Who "Self-Deport" from the US — Immigrants who “self-deport” can now verify exit through app / Photo: DHS

“The foreign national must be at least three miles outside the United States to successfully use this feature,” McLaughlin stated.

The CBP Home app was launched on March 10 and is intended to facilitate voluntary self-deportation.

Immigrants who use it are expected to return to the U.S. legally in the future.

According to McLaughlin, this option helps conserve law enforcement resources by allowing agents to focus on dangerous individuals or those with criminal records.

As part of the initiative, former President Donald Trump recorded a video message urging undocumented immigrants to self-deport.

In the video, Trump also promotes the use of the app as a tool to notify authorities of their departure.

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While using the app’s feature is optional, once activated, users are required to submit a facial image.

DHS stated that the app includes “safeguards” to protect users’ personal data.

However, it remains unclear whether migrants who self-deport using the app will be exempt from existing legal penalties, such as bans of up to 10 years from reentering the U.S.

Likewise, no specific information has been provided regarding legal pathways or assistance for future reentry.