A new mobile app feature from U.S. Customs and Border Protection is changing the way some immigrants choose to leave — or are pressured to leave — the United States. The CBP Home app’s “Intent to Depart” function allows individuals without lawful immigration status to officially notify the federal government of their plan to voluntarily exit the country. On the surface, the program sounds orderly and even generous: the government offers a $2,600 stipend and assistance with airfare. But immigration attorneys across the country are urgently warning that using this feature could permanently close the door on your ability to return to the U.S.
If you or someone you love is considering using the CBP Home app to self-deport, please read this guide carefully before taking any action. The consequences are real, long-lasting, and in many cases, irreversible without the help of a qualified immigration attorney.
What Is the CBP Home “Intent to Depart” Feature?
The CBP Home mobile application was launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of what the administration calls Project Homecoming — a program designed to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the United States voluntarily rather than face enforcement action by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Through the app, a person without lawful immigration status can submit an “Intent to Depart” notification directly to the federal government. Once a non-criminal individual completes this submission and passes government vetting, DHS states they will be temporarily deprioritized for detention or enforcement while they arrange their departure. As an incentive, participants may receive:
- A one-time financial stipend of $2,600 (increased from the original $1,000 offer)
- Assistance with the cost of a return flight to their home country
- A chance to leave “on their own terms” rather than through a forced removal
At first glance, this may seem like a compassionate option. But immigration legal experts emphasize that the risks far outweigh the short-term benefits for most people — especially those who may have a pathway to legal status they are not even aware of.
The Serious Legal Consequences of Using the CBP Home App
Before you or a family member submits anything through the CBP Home app, you must understand these critical legal consequences:
3-Year and 10-Year Reentry Bars
Under U.S. immigration law, individuals who have been unlawfully present in the United States face automatic bars to reentry once they leave:
- If you have been unlawfully present for 180 days to 1 year, you face a 3-year bar on returning to the U.S.
- If you have been unlawfully present for more than 1 year, you face a 10-year bar on returning.
These bars apply whether you leave voluntarily through CBP Home or are formally deported. However, when you leave through self-deportation, you may be triggering this bar without the opportunity to first apply for a waiver or other relief — something you could explore while still inside the United States.
Abandonment of Pending Applications and Legal Rights
If you currently have any of the following, leaving the country through CBP Home could result in those cases being considered abandoned or automatically closed:
- A pending asylum application
- An adjustment of status application (green card filed inside the U.S.)
- DACA status or a pending DACA renewal
- A special immigrant juvenile petition
- A U visa or T visa application for crime or trafficking victims
- Any pending immigration court proceedings
An asylum application in particular is presumed abandoned the moment you depart the U.S., even if you leave voluntarily. Years of waiting and legal work can be erased with one tap on a smartphone.
Risk of a Formal Removal Order
Despite the government’s language about “voluntary departure,” immigration attorneys have flagged a critical distinction: what DHS sometimes calls voluntary departure through CBP Home may actually be processed as a stipulated removal — meaning a formal order of deportation is entered without a court hearing. This is far more damaging than a simple voluntary departure and can result in:
- A permanent bar on reentry for certain individuals
- Inability to apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad
- Criminal charges if you ever attempt to reenter the U.S. without authorization
Who Should Absolutely NOT Use the CBP Home App
AILA-affiliated immigration attorneys and legal aid organizations strongly advise against using the CBP Home “Intent to Depart” feature if any of the following apply to you:
- You have a pending application or petition with USCIS of any kind
- You have an open immigration court case
- You entered the U.S. as a child or have been here since childhood (potential DACA eligibility)
- You are a victim of domestic violence, crime, or human trafficking
- You have U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family members who could sponsor you
- You have been in the U.S. for more than 180 days (reentry bar risk)
- You have any prior removal order or immigration violation on your record
- You are not sure whether you qualify for any form of legal relief
This is not an exhaustive list. The bottom line is that every case is different, and only a qualified immigration attorney can properly evaluate your situation before you make an irreversible decision.
What to Do Instead: Know Your Options Before You Act
If you are undocumented or in a difficult immigration situation, there are steps you can take before considering any form of voluntary departure:
- Consult an immigration attorney immediately. Many nonprofit organizations offer free or low-cost legal consultations. Do not rely on notarios or non-attorney consultants who cannot provide legal advice.
- Know your rights. You have constitutional rights in the United States regardless of your immigration status, including the right to remain silent and the right to speak to an attorney.
- Review any legal pathways that may apply. You may be eligible for cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, asylum, TPS, VAWA relief, or other forms of protection that you are not aware of.
- Do not sign any documents you don’t understand. Anything you sign related to your immigration case — including agreements related to CBP Home — can have lasting legal consequences.
A Note About the $2,600 Stipend
The government’s offer of a $2,600 stipend has attracted attention, but immigration advocates urge people not to let a short-term financial offer drive a permanent legal decision. For many families, the cost of being separated from U.S.-citizen children, losing pending legal cases, and being barred from returning for 10 years is immeasurably higher than any stipend. The financial incentive is structured to encourage rapid departure — not to protect your long-term interests.
If you are facing financial hardship alongside immigration uncertainty, a legal advocate can help you identify resources and options that don’t require giving up your legal rights or your presence in the United States.
The Bottom Line for Immigrants and Families
The CBP Home “Intent to Depart” feature is one of the most consequential tools the federal government has introduced in recent years — and one of the most misunderstood. Using it without legal guidance could permanently separate families, eliminate years of progress on pending applications, and result in bars that prevent return to the United States for a decade or more.
Before taking any action through the CBP Home app or any other self-deportation mechanism, please speak with a licensed immigration attorney who can review your specific circumstances. What looks like a simple, orderly exit could be the single most damaging decision in your immigration journey.
For authoritative legal analysis and guidance on this and other immigration developments, visit the American Immigration Lawyers Association at aila.org or contact a qualified immigration attorney in your area. Immigration Fleet is here to help — reach out to our team for a consultation.
Immigration Fleet Law Firm