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The Trump administration announced it is offering a $1,000 incentive to migrants who "self-deport" using the 

The Homeland Security Department pitched the monetary incentive as a more cost-effective (for the government) and "dignified" way to leave the country. The department has been working to ramp up the speed and number of arrests, detentions and removal of  of immigrants without legal status over the last few months — a costly and resource-intensive endeavor.

The department estimates the average cost of  arresting, detaining , and removing  someone without legal status amounts to around $17,121.

Immigration enforcement officials have noted that detention capacity is maxed out and the administration is seeking to streamline removals.

 people have used the app since it was rebranded from facilitating asylum requests to promoting removals.

 within hours of President Trump's inauguration in January. The administration then launched a new effort last month that urged migrants to leave "

The administration is banking on the fact that migrants would rather leave the country than risk being arrested by immigration officials and face a fine — a 

DHS also announced it has already used the monetary incentive once to transport someone from Chicago to Honduras. The agency added that people without legal status have booked additional plane tickets for this week and next.

But immigrant advocates are skeptical. Even if some people may take the administration up on their offer, immigration advocates say most don't believe they will ever receive the incentive and eventually be able to apply for legal status, as the administration has suggested.

DHS did not respond to questions about how many people were set to be paid and how the incentive is issued.

There are some 11 million people without legal status in the country, 

"They're clearly out of touch with the reality that immigrant families and communities and individuals face in this country, and why they're here in the first place," said Esther Reyes, campaign strategist for the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition.

Reyes says families targeted by this messaging have long felt the threat of removal.

"A lot of the fear that communities feel has been around for a long time; particularly for people who are here without any kind of legal status, every day is a risk," Reyes said. "Unfortunately, folks are used to the threats, whether small or large, that come their way on a regular basis."

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Ximena Bustillo

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The Homeland Security Department pitched the monetary incentive as a more “dignified” way to leave the country, while saving taxpayers money.

Trump offers $1,000 incentive to migrants who leave the country voluntarily

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