A group of 68 immigrants from Honduras and Colombia returned to their countries of origin on Monday from Texas as part of a new initiative by the Trump administration.
The programme promotes the departure of people in an irregular migratory situation in what the Trump administration is calling "voluntary deportations."
In early May, the US government offered a payment of $1,000 (€889) to undocumented migrants who made the choice to leave the country voluntarily.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Monday that the first departure flight marks the beginning of the so-called "Project Homecoming" plan.
According to Noem, the action is not part of the usual Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, but a voluntary and assisted process.
In a post on his X account, Noem said, "If you are in this country illegally, deport yourself NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal and correct way."
"If you don't, you will be subject to fines, arrest, deportation and never be allowed to return," she added.
Participants in the programme used a CBP Home application to formalise their departure and received the money promised to support their return.
Upon arrival in both Honduras and Colombia, migrants were met with local assistance.
The Hondurans were also included in the 'Hermano, Hermana, Vuelve a Casa' programme, which provides a $100 voucher (€89) for adults, including food aid and job orientation.
Colombian returnees were assisted by the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF) and the Department for Social Prosperity (DPS) — agencies in charge of facilitating social and economic reintegration.
The programme is part of the new immigration policies promoted by Donald Trump since the start of his second term in office in January, with the aim of reducing irregular immigration in the country.
His offer to allow migrants to depart voluntarily has been matched with highly-publicised detentions in the US and flying a couple hundred of Venezuelan migrants to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.
