Overview
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted on X urging migrants to “self-deport” with the line, “Don’t wait, self deport today… We will even give you $2,600 to take them out.”
- An accompanying clip showed slow‑motion scenes of the deportation process set to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
- The message was retweeted by CBP Chief Michael Banks and had roughly 400,000 views by Saturday afternoon, according to news reports.
- The post landed during a limited Department of Homeland Security funding lapse following disputes over immigration enforcement and after officials said a Minneapolis enforcement surge was ending.
- Coverage tied the message to a program that offers cash and flights to encourage return, as Democrats cited about $40 million spent to send roughly 300 migrants to third countries and conservative influencer Nick Sortor amplified and mocked a related video.