The U.S. administration has proposed offering a one-time stipend of $2,500 to unaccompanied migrant children aged 14 and above who opt to voluntarily return to their home countries. Reuters reported this initiative, citing a letter issued by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Refugee Resettlement to federal migrant shelters.
The offer has elicited varied reactions. Wendy Young, president of Kids in Need of Defense, characterized the stipend as a "cruel tactic," asserting it undermines legal protections and may coerce vulnerable children into returning to perilous situations. Conversely, officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including Communications Director Andrew Nixon, have defended the program, stating it provides unaccompanied minors with a choice to make an informed decision about their future.
This development unfolds as the U.S. government continues to face legal challenges regarding efforts to accelerate the deportation of migrant children. Government data indicates that more than 600,000 unaccompanied minors have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since 2019.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/2500-for-self-deportation-trump-admin-offers-payout-for-unaccompanied-migrant-kids-to-leave-us-critics-call-it-cruel/articleshow/124301646.cms
