The Costs of Self-Deportation

The Trump Administration is trying to intimidate people into self-deporting in order to avoid their intentionally violent enforcement tactics of arrest, detention, and even deportation to a “third country,” meaning a country other than the person’s country of origin. At the same time, the Administration is promising money or other incentives to those who self-deport, including suggesting that people who self-deport may be able to return lawfully to the United States in the future. It is understandable that people feel an intense pressure right now to give up their cases or long-time residence in the United States. Nevertheless, there are serious costs to self-deportation that people should be aware of before they make such a difficult decision.