Trump administration offers $3,000 to migrant children ages 14 and up to leave the United States
The Trump administration announced on October 14, 2026 that migrant children ages 14 and older in federal custody with no gang affiliations could receive a $3,000 payment to voluntarily leave the United States.
The program, described as a voluntary departure initiative, raises the incentive by $500 from the $2,500 amount offered the previous year. Officials say the increase is intended to encourage more youths to return to their home countries and to lower the number of minors held in detention facilities.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin is overseeing the effort, which the department frames as a child‑protection measure. A DHS spokesperson told ABC News that Mullin is "leading efforts to rescue these children and stop their exploitation."
The administration highlighted concerns about the handling of unaccompanied minors under the previous government, noting that many children were placed with sponsors who were "smugglers and sex traffickers." A spokesperson added, "Unlike the previous administration, President Trump and DHS take the responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement to reunite children with their families."
According to a legal services provider cited by ABC News, the increased incentive began earlier in the month. The agency also assembled a team of federal attorneys to represent migrant children in immigration proceedings after ending agreements with several advocacy organizations that had previously offered legal assistance.
The program targets unaccompanied minors held by the federal government and is presented as a voluntary option, allowing children who meet the eligibility criteria to receive the payment and arrange their departure without forced removal.
Federal officials say the initiative will be monitored for effectiveness, and they expect additional guidance on how the payments will be administered to eligible youths.
