Trump administration will pay immigrants in U.S. illegally $1,000 to self-deport

‘Self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,’ Homeland Security secretary says

Trump claims Catholics 'loved' AI image of him as the Pope

The Department of Homeland Security revealed on Monday that it would pay $1,000 to immigrants who choose to leave the country.

Referring to it as “travel assistance,” the effort is part of a larger push to make immigrants leave the country of their own accord instead of waiting for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to begin deportation proceedings.

The department argued that the policy would be a good deal for U.S. taxpayers, as the average cost of the detention and deportation of an immigrant is more than $17,000.

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press release.

The system uses the app CBP Home, where migrants can register their upcoming travel out of the country.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has said he will impose “100 percent tariffs” on foreign films in order to boost the Hollywood film industry, which he argued is “dying” while insisting that movies made overseas pose a “national security threat.”

“The movie industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” he wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

Key Points

• Donald Trump threatens 100% tariffs on foreign films: ‘The movie industry in America is dying’
• Trump orders reopening and expansion of notorious Alcatraz prison
• President's Alcatraz proposal is ‘not a serious one,’ says Nancy Pelosi
• Trump bemoans ‘radicalized judges’ holding up deportation push
• President says he will not pursue a third term and plans to lower tariffs on China ‘at some point’

[5 May 2025 14:40 · Joe Sommerlad]

MTG signals the one thing that will cost Republicans ‘bigly’

Republicans are at odds on whether to pass Trump’s tax cuts, which could introduce $4.6 trillion to the national debt over the next decade

Here’s Katie Hawkinson on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s warning to the GOP.

[5 May 2025 15:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Premium: How Trump fast-tracked Project 2025 and why it’s worse than you think

America is having to face up to the consequences of a new dictator class, Alex Hannaford warns.

[5 May 2025 15:20 · Joe Sommerlad]

What’s on Trump’s schedule today?

The president has a slightly mysterious “sports announcement” listed at the White House today at 1pm local time.

After that, he is signing more executive orders in the Oval Office at 3pm before heading off for a “MAGA Inc Dinner” at the Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C., at 7.30pm.

He’s currently on Truth Social posting clips of Markwayne Mullin and Kelly Loeffler talking up his economic policies:

[5 May 2025 15:40 · Joe Sommerlad]

Warren Buffett says it is not ‘wise’ to use tariffs as a weapon

The “Sage of Omaha,” who announced last week that he is stepping down from Berkshire Hathaway at the age of 94, did not explicitly name Trump during his remarks to his company’s investor conference on Saturday but his intentions were clear.

“Trade should not be a weapon,” Buffett said. “And the United States… we’ve won. I mean, we have become an incredibly important country, starting from nothing 250 years ago.

“There’s nothing like it. And it’s a big mistake, in my view, when you have seven and a half billion people that don’t like you very well, and you’ve got 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they’ve done, and I don’t think it’s right and I don’t think it’s wise.”

Mike Bedigan has more.

[5 May 2025 15:59 · Gustaf Kilander]

Trump admin to pay immigrants $1,000 to leave U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security revealed on Monday that it would pay $1,000 to immigrants who choose to leave the country.

Referring to it as “travel assistance,” the effort is part of a larger push to make immigrants leave the country of their own accord instead of waiting for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to begin deportation proceedings.

The department argued that the policy would be a good deal for U.S. taxpayers, as the average cost of the detention and deportation of an immigrant is more than $17,000.

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a press release.

The system uses the app CBP Home, where migrants can register their upcoming travel out of the country.

[5 May 2025 16:20 · Gustaf Kilander]

Trump recounts call with Erdoğan: 'Good and productive'

Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to announce the results of his call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

I just had a very good and productive telephone conversation with the President of Turkey, Recep Erdoğan, concerning many subjects, including the War with Russia/Ukraine, all things Syria, Gaza, and more.

The President invited me to go to Turkey at a future date and, likewise, he will be coming to Washington, D.C.

During my four years as President, my relationship with President Erdoğan was excellent.

We worked together closely on numerous things, including the fact that he helped return Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was imprisoned, back to the United States — Immediately upon my request.

In any event, I look forward to working with President Erdoğan on getting the ridiculous, but deadly, War between Russia and Ukraine ended — NOW!

Donald Trump on Truth Social

[5 May 2025 16:40 · Gustaf Kilander]

Trump plans $100m tariffs on movies and TV shows made overseas - here are the shows that could be impacted

President Donald Trump revealed on Sunday that he’s starting the process of putting in place 100 percent tariffs on any movie made outside of the U.S.

The Trump trade war is now moving on from industry to intellectual property, which could have a massive impact on an industry that often produces work across several countries.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Trump claimed on Truth Social on Sunday night. “Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated.”

[5 May 2025 17:00 · Gustaf Kilander]

Democratic senators press Trump administration on how it will protect endangered species

Tammy Webber writes:

Three Democratic U.S. senators are asking the Trump administration to explain how it analyzed a proposed rule to eliminate habitat protections for endangered and threatened species and whether industry had a hand in drafting it.

Senators Adam Schiff, Sheldon Whitehouse and Cory Booker sent a letter Monday to the departments of Interior and Commerce that also asks how the administration plans to protect species if the rule is changed.

At issue is a long-standing definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act, which has included altering or destroying the places those species live — the No. 1 cause of extinction.

[5 May 2025 17:20 · Gustaf Kilander]

Europe launches drive for scientists in swipe at Trump’s funding freeze

Catherine Gaschka and Lorne Cook write:

The European Union launched a drive on Monday to attract scientists and researchers to Europe with offers of grants and new policy plans, after the Trump administration froze U.S. government funding linked to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the “Choose Europe for Science” event in Paris.

“No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas,” Macron said. “But here we are."

[5 May 2025 17:40 · Gustaf Kilander]

Albanese holds ‘warm’ talks with Trump on Aukus and tariffs after election win

Shweta Sharma writes:

Anthony Albanese said he had a “very warm” conversation with American President Donald Trump after becoming the first Australian prime minister to win a second consecutive term in over two decades.

Mr Albanese said he discussed the Aukus military pact and the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs in a congratulatory phone call following his stunning comeback.

Mr Albanese of the Labor Party won against the conservative Liberal-National coalition led by Peter Dutton, as Mr Trump’s global tariff war and the fear of centre-right leaders mirroring Trump-style politics shaped the election in his favour.