Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes Project Homecoming
5/9/2025
Action Summary
- Project Homecoming Establishment: President Trump signed a proclamation to initiate Project Homecoming, offering illegal aliens a choice between voluntary departure with federal support or facing strict enforcement and penalties.
- Voluntary Departure Incentives:
- Provides an exit bonus as a financial incentive.
- Offers government-funded flights, travel assistance via the CBP Home app, and concierge services at airports.
- Communications and Penalties:
- Launches a nationwide campaign detailing the benefits of voluntary departure.
- Highlights severe consequences for those who remain, including potential removal, prosecution, fines, wage garnishment, and property confiscation.
- Enforcement Measures:
- Initiates a full-scale deportation surge by deploying an additional 20,000 officers for those not departing voluntarily.
- Border Security and Fiscal Rationale:
- Justifies action by citing previous administration policies that led to high crime rates and significant fiscal burdens (over $150 billion in FY2023) due to illegal immigration.
- Emphasizes that illegal immigration has strained American schools, hospitals, and social services.
- Comprehensive Border Policy Reversal:
- Reaffirms President Trump’s broader strategy to secure the border by declaring a national emergency, deploying additional personnel, and restarting border wall construction.
- Includes actions such as suspending new entries, enhanced vetting, terminating parole programs, ending catch-and-release policies, and rescinding Biden-era executive actions.
Risks & Considerations
- The establishment of Project Homecoming could lead to significant changes in the demographic composition of the student body at Vanderbilt University, particularly affecting students who are undocumented or come from mixed-status families. This may impact diversity and inclusion efforts on campus.
- The aggressive deportation measures and the potential for increased enforcement actions could create a climate of fear and uncertainty among students, faculty, and staff who are immigrants or have immigrant family members, potentially affecting their mental health and academic performance.
- Vanderbilt University may need to enhance its support services for affected students, including legal assistance, counseling, and advocacy, to help them navigate the challenges posed by these new immigration policies.
- The university’s international collaborations and partnerships could be impacted by the suspension of entry for certain nationals and the enhanced vetting processes, potentially affecting research and academic exchanges.
Impacted Programs
- Vanderbilt’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services will likely see an increased demand for support and guidance as students and scholars navigate the complexities of the new immigration policies.
- The Vanderbilt Law School may have opportunities to engage in legal advocacy and provide pro bono services to those affected by the immigration changes, potentially expanding its clinical programs.
- Vanderbilt’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives may need to adapt their strategies to address the challenges faced by immigrant communities on campus and ensure that the university remains a welcoming environment for all students.
Financial Impact
- The potential reduction in the number of international students and scholars could impact tuition revenue and the financial health of programs that rely on their participation.
- Increased demand for legal and counseling services may require additional resources and funding to adequately support affected students and staff.
- Changes in federal funding priorities, particularly those related to immigration and international collaboration, could affect grant opportunities and research funding for Vanderbilt University.
Relevance Score: 4 (The order presents a need for potential major changes or transformations of programs.)
Key Actions
- Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should closely monitor the implementation of Project Homecoming and its potential impact on the university’s international student population. By understanding the nuances of the policy, the office can provide timely guidance and support to affected students and faculty.
- The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) should prepare to offer additional support and resources to international students who may be impacted by changes in immigration enforcement. This includes providing legal resources, counseling, and assistance with travel documentation.
- Vanderbilt’s Legal Affairs Office should evaluate the potential legal implications of Project Homecoming on the university’s operations and community. This includes assessing risks related to compliance with federal immigration laws and advising on best practices to mitigate any legal challenges.
- The Department of Political Science could conduct research on the broader societal and economic impacts of Project Homecoming. This research can provide valuable insights into how these policies affect communities and contribute to public discourse on immigration reform.
- Vanderbilt’s Public Affairs Office should develop a communication strategy to address concerns and questions from the university community regarding Project Homecoming. This includes providing clear and accurate information about the policy and its implications for students and staff.
Opportunities
- The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Center for Latin American Studies to engage in policy analysis and advocacy related to immigration reform. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the center can influence public policy and contribute to the national conversation on immigration.
- Vanderbilt can capitalize on the increased focus on immigration enforcement by developing new programs and partnerships with organizations that support immigrant communities. This could include joint research initiatives, community outreach programs, and collaborative policy development.
- The emphasis on securing the border and reducing illegal immigration offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Law School to engage in legal research and advocacy. By analyzing the legal implications of immigration policies, the law school can contribute to the development of fair and just immigration laws.
- By engaging with policymakers and the broader community, Vanderbilt can position itself as a leader in the national conversation on immigration reform. Hosting conferences, workshops, and public forums on the implications of immigration policies can further establish Vanderbilt as a hub for innovative thought and practice in this area.
Relevance Score: 4 (The order presents the potential for major process changes required for Vanderbilt’s programs due to immigration policy impacts.)
Timeline for Implementation
N/A: No explicit deadline or timeline for implementing the directives is mentioned in the text.
Relevance Score: 1
Impacted Government Organizations
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Directly involved in deploying the CBP Home app for a streamlined departure process and managing border-related enforcement operations.
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Tasked with executing the aggressive removal surge and enforcing penalties for illegal aliens who do not depart voluntarily.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Impacted by the termination of categorical parole programs and changes to policies regarding automatic citizenship for children of illegal aliens.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Oversees the overall immigration and border security strategy, including Project Homecoming initiatives, border wall construction, and deployment of additional officers.
- Department of Defense (DoD): Involved due to the deployment of Armed Forces and National Guard personnel to support enhanced border enforcement operations.
- Department of State: Affected through the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and modifications in international travel and visa-related procedures.
- Department of Justice (DOJ): Plays a role by pursuing the prosecution of individuals who violate updated immigration policies and enforcing the stricter legal framework established.
Relevance Score: 3 (Six to ten agencies are impacted by the directive across various aspects of immigration and border enforcement.)
Responsible Officials
- Secretary of Homeland Security – Charged with overall strategy and oversight for implementing new immigration directives, including the voluntary departure program, deportation surge, and associated enforcement actions.
- Director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Responsible for executing operational directives such as managing the CBP Home app for departure processing, coordinating the increase in officer deployment, and ceasing the CBP One app operations.
Relevance Score: 4 (Directives significantly impact the agency heads responsible for national border security and immigration policy implementation.)