While historically used as an administrative term, it gained significant political prominence in the U.S. in 2012 and has been implemented as a cornerstone policy under the second Trump administration as of 2025. Key Mechanisms of Self-Deportation
Modern self-deportation strategies rely on a combination of digital tools, financial incentives, and "chilling effects" in daily life: 2. Self-Deportation
(also known as "attrition through enforcement") is an immigration strategy designed to make living in a country so difficult, costly, or fearful for undocumented individuals that they "choose" to leave on their own. While historically used as an administrative term, it