By Dimple Singh

Copyright timesnownews

The Trump administration is now offering teenage migrants up to $2,500 to voluntarily return to their home countries, according to a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement. The stipend is aimed at unaccompanied children aged 14 or older, with the initial offer being made to 17-year-olds. How The Program Works The letter, according to Reuters and other media outlets, stated that the payment would be given after an immigration judge approves the request and the migrant arrives safely in their country of origin. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that the program is voluntary and is meant to support safe returns for unaccompanied minors. Minors from Mexico are not eligible for the stipend, but children who had already volunteered to leave as of Friday would be included. ICE officials said the program is not a mass deportation campaign and dismissed claims from some advocacy groups that it would trigger a large-scale removal operation. Background And Purpose The move aligns with President Trump’s campaign promise to carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in US history. Since January 20, DHS said about two million undocumented immigrants have either self-deported or been removed by federal authorities. About 1.6 million left voluntarily, while 400,000 were formally deported. Trump signed an executive order in May creating the first-ever self-deportation program that provides financial incentives and free flights to encourage voluntary departures. Previously, migrants were offered $1,000 to leave. DHS has said this approach is far cheaper than traditional detention and deportation, which can cost over $17,000 per person. Concerns From Advocates Some immigration advocates have criticized the program, warning that it could put children at risk. Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, said that trafficked minors could be sent back into the hands of smugglers or cartels without proper safeguards. She called the stipend confusing and said it may violate protections Congress passed to shield children from cyclical trafficking. ICE and HHS stated that the program is voluntary and designed to ensure the safety and well-being of unaccompanied minors who were often traffickedinto the US. (With inputs from AP) Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.