Legal dispute stalls Trump-era $2 billion self-deportation program
The contractor that ran the Trump administration’s $2 billion voluntary-departure scheme has sued the Department of Homeland Security over a new award, threatening to delay the program into next year.
The Department of Homeland Security terminated Salus Worldwide Solutions’ $915 million Project Homecoming contract in September after the firm ran out of cash and asked for a $200 million extension. Salus, accused of political favoritism in securing the original deal, has now sued DHS over the agency’s plan to award the program to Response AI Solutions. The lawsuit may prevent the new contractor from commencing work while the dispute is examined, with a decision due by Jan. 11.
Project Homecoming offers immigrants cash payments and plane tickets to depart the United States voluntarily. Salus has given conflicting figures on how many participants it has assisted, and its current contract expires on Nov. 21, leaving open the possibility of another taxpayer-funded extension. Neither Salus nor Response AI have commented on the legal filing.
Why it matters
The dispute could delay a costly immigration program and affect future taxpayer spending.
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