Trump administration pushes self-deportation as ideal way for immigrants to leave US

Published May 5, 2025 8:00am ET



The Trump administration has its flashy mass deportation campaign underway, but beneath the surface, the strategy includes convincing millions of immigrants to choose to leave without government assistance by making their lives too uncomfortable to stay in the United States.

While the White House has touted its intentions to remove immigrants who illegally entered the U.S., it has faced significant logistical, legal, and financial constraints over the past 2 1/2 months.

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