Trump’s video campaign aims to push unauthorized immigrants out before arrests

President Trump has recorded a video urging unauthorized immigrants to "self-deport" and use a newly launched app to report their departure from the US.

Axios has learned that the 90-second video, which will be shared on platforms like Instagram, X, YouTube, and Rumble, is part of a broader advertising campaign encouraging immigrants to leave before US officials can arrest them, per Caliber.Az.

This initiative comes amid challenges in Trump's efforts to deport "millions and millions" of unauthorized immigrants due to insufficient funds, detention space, officers, and infrastructure. Faced with such limitations, Trump's team has resorted to tough rhetoric in an attempt to persuade immigrants to leave the US voluntarily or prevent their arrival altogether.

In the video, Trump warns immigrants that if they hope to eventually become US citizens, they should register with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app and leave the country now. 

"My administration is launching the CBP Home app to give people in our country illegally an easy way to leave now and self-deport voluntarily,” Trump says directly to the camera. “If they do, they could potentially have the opportunity to return legally at some point in the future.”

However, he also issues a stern warning: “If they do not avail themselves of this opportunity, then they will be found, they will be deported and they will never be admitted again to the United States — ever, ever again, you're never coming in.”

It's unclear whether many undocumented immigrants will trust the administration enough to voluntarily provide information through the app, which could potentially be used against them if they attempt to return to the US seeking legal entry.

Meanwhile, Trump administration officials are emphasizing that staying in the US and risking arrest could lead to even harsher consequences. Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem recently appeared in a commercial urging immigrants to "leave now," a spot commissioned by Trump. Noem’s department is also running an international ad campaign warning foreigners not to enter the US illegally, spending around $200 million on the effort.

The newly launched CBP Home app, which was rolled out earlier this month, has been promoted by Noem and Elon Musk, a top Trump adviser.

The Trump administration has also shut down the CBP One app, established under the Biden White House, which helped facilitate legal border crossings.

Trump explains in his video, “This app saves US taxpayer dollars and valuable CBP and [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] resources, and all of those resources are necessary to focus on dangerous criminal aliens, and that’s what we’re focused on.”

By Tamilla Hasanova