Voluntary departures hit record high as detained immigrants lose hope of getting released or winning in court

CBS News ^ | February 12, 2026 | Julia Ingram, Kati Weis

[Mr. Mojo]

As pathways to freedom have narrowed in immigration courts across the United States, a record number of detainees are giving up their cases and voluntarily leaving the country.

Last year, 28% of completed immigration removal cases among those in detention ended in voluntary departure, a higher share than in any year prior, a CBS News analysis of decades of court records found.

That figure only appears to be climbing as the Trump administration's immigration crackdown widens and detention populations swell. The percentage of voluntary departures among those detained grew nearly every month of 2025, reaching 38% in December. The analysis does not include those who were not given a hearing before an immigration judge, such as immigrants in expedited removal proceedings.

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: deportation; illegals; illegaltruth

[KrisKrinkle]

In the case of voluntary departure like these, who pays for travel and how do they travel?

In the case of involuntary departure, who pays for travel and how do they travel?

[an amused spectator]

Remigration!

[an amused spectator]

The Spanish Amelia

This one is a good one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8FScc5b98k

[pissant]

keep it up!!

[dfwgator]

I voted for this!

[airborne]

Thank you for posting this feel good story!

😃👍

[Jeff Vader]

we do in both cases, but it’s much cheaper than letting them stay here

[Jeff Vader]

yes it is, similar message to the English one but with a Spanish twist to it. It’d be nice to see European nations reclaim the qualities that made them all so unique

[Sarah Barracuda]

ADIOS dont let the door hit ya on the ass on the way out

[Mathews]

Woo hoo!

[DAC21]

cBS is in great distress. Hahahahaha!

[Savage Beast]

"As pathways to freedom have narrowed in immigration courts across the United States..."

How's that for agitprop!

They had always been free to return to their home country or any other country. But no, they cannot enter or remain in the USA ILLEGALLY; no one has ever been able to do that. Nothing has changed. No pathway to freedom has narrowed.

[Savage Beast]

"Last year, 28% of completed immigration removal cases among those in detention ended in voluntary departure"

A splendid victory for the American People, President Trump, liberty, and justice.

[an amused spectator]

[Amelia] is also no longer alone: Maria, Marianne, Anna-Marie, and numerous other counterparts have emerged, created to represent different countries, including Germany, France, and Canada, all grappling with the same problems as the United Kingdom — the coordinated influx of third-world migrants and political establishments unwilling to take action to protect their citizens.

the French Amelia
https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=vjFgpz7ZAcs

[an amused spectator]

Another French Amelia, and her “hit the road” message.

Amélie : Retrouve ta Maison – French Version of the Amelia Meme (Wholesome Remigration)
https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=X_4yn-8CBbk

Canadian Amelia, Sora:
https://www.yout-ube.com/shorts/wJ5ML_b1A6w

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In the case of voluntary departure like these, who pays for travel and how do they travel?

https://x.com/i/grok/share/bf5b12d510ac48d9b424ab067d282d30"

$2,600 per person (exit bonus/stipend), plus a free one-way plane ticket home.Undocumented immigrants who voluntarily self-deport through the CBP Home app receive:

• $2,600 exit bonus (paid after departure confirmation, typically via wire transfer).
• Cost-free travel: The U.S. government arranges and pays for a one-way flight to their home country or another country where they have lawful status.

This is the current offer as of February 2026, per official DHS announcements (effective since January 21, 2026). For details, see dhs.gov/cbphome.

[FLT-bird]

After January its 2.9 million illegal aliens Trump has gotten out of the country in the first year. That’s a good start. This needs to continue year after year. After his term, if JD Vance can win in 2028, we can really put a dent in the population of illegals in this country.....make it feel more like America again.

[central_va]

FYI

In 2025, approximately 2.2 million illegal immigrants voluntarily self-deported from the United States. This figure was reported by the Department of Homeland Security as part of their efforts to encourage self-deportation.

[Toughluck_freeper]

Smart people.
By self deporting the can someday legally come back to the USA plus they get $1000 free pocket money and a paid flight to their destination.