KATHMANDU, April 17: In a twist few saw coming, US President Donald Trump, known for his hardline stance on immigration, is now pitching a softer — and surprisingly generous — approach: offering money and a plane ticket to illegal immigrants who voluntarily leave the US.
In a taped interview with Fox Noticias that aired Tuesday, Trump unveiled his vision for a “self-deportation program” aimed at undocumented immigrants — a striking departure from his earlier calls for mass deportations. Under the ‘self-deportation plan’, Trump said illegal immigrants who choose to leave would be given airfare and a stipend, and if deemed “good,” they could eventually return legally.
“We are going to give them a stipend. We’re going to give them some money and a plane ticket,” Trump said, adding, “and then we are going to work with them — if they’re good — to get them back in as quickly as we can.”
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The Associated Press reported that Trump offered few details about how or when the program would roll out. However, he emphasized that the current priority is removing “murderers” and other serious criminals, while carving out a path for law-abiding individuals to re-enter the country the "right way."
The conversation took a personal turn when Fox Noticias host Rachel Campos-Duffy — wife of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy — played a video clip of a Mexican immigrant who entered the US illegally over two decades ago. The man, who now has American-born children, expressed support for Trump’s crime-focused immigration policies, despite not having voting rights.
Trump’s response: "I look at this man. I say, this is a guy that we want to keep." He quickly added, "I will probably take heat for saying it."
Asked whether the man should be deported, Trump answered himself: “No, he didn’t say that. Good. I don’t think he is in any danger of it.”
Beyond individuals, Trump said he also wants to help industries like farming and hospitality, sectors that have long complained of labor shortages, by recommending immigrants for job openings once they have legally returned.
"We're doing a self-deportation and we're going to make it comfortable for people," Trump said. “And we’re going to work with those people to come back into our country legally.”
The interview, taped Monday, marks a rare moment where Trump’s immigration rhetoric appears to blend enforcement with incentives — though many questions about the practicality and logistics of the plan remain unanswered.
