On March 10, the Trump administration launched the ‘CBP Home’ app in place of the CBP One app, aimed at pressuring migrants to “self-deport” rather than risk being detained or arrested. Soon afterward, Indian PhD student Ranjani Srinivasan chose to leave the US voluntarily when her visa was cancelled for organizing pro-Palestinian protests. The US Department of State verified her self-deportation through the new app on March 11, 2025. The process was filmed, and the incident was confirmed by US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
This action comes as the Trump administration’s larger immigration crackdown. The ‘self-deportation’ program provides an opportunity for migrants to depart voluntarily before stricter penalties come into effect. In contrast to official deportation, self-deportation gives migrants the freedom to depart without government action. Srinivasan’s situation follows on from the wave of deportations initiated under Trump, where an estimated 37,660 were deported in his initial month in office.
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The CBP Home app enables people to declare their plans to leave the US and requests confirmation of funds available and a valid passport. It also facilitates booking inspections on perishable cargo, exit card applications, and viewing wait times at US ports of entry. This effort comes after the previous CBP One app, which enabled scheduling of immigration, was dismantled by Trump’s administration within weeks of entering office.
Self-Deportation versus Voluntary Departure:
Self-deportation, as allowed by the new application, is different from voluntary departure. When voluntary departure is involved, an immigration judge is part of the process, where the person has hearings to establish eligibility. Voluntary departure would often happen when a person is detained by ICE and offered an opportunity to depart voluntarily. Self-deportation is a less official process, dependent only on the individual’s volition without judicial intervention.
As opposed to voluntary departure, which involves a lengthy process with hearings and possible government opposition, self-deportation can happen in an instant. Self-deportation does not require a judge’s decision, so it is a simpler choice for individuals seeking to leave the US without hesitation.
Which Option is Better?
Legally, voluntary departure is the preferred one because it avoids negative effects of legal deportation and extended re-entry prohibition that could be years in duration. Voluntary departure allows people to have good immigration record and may provide them with a chance for re-admission with a waiver.Self-deportation operates instantaneously in terms of effects but contains long-term effects like probable difficulty when entering the US and applying for immigration benefits in the future.
While self-deportation is a convenient exit, voluntary departure offers legal cover and a cleaner immigration record, frequently the preferable choice for those who have it.
