Washington: The US government plans to offer migrant teenagers a $2,500 stipend to voluntarily return to their home countries, according to an administration memo released on Friday. The initiative is part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to address the situation of unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States.

According to Anadolu Agency, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) memo stated that immigration officials have identified unaccompanied immigrant children aged 14 and older in custody who wish to voluntarily leave the US. The memo outlines that the administration will provide a one-time resettlement support stipend of $2,500 to these unaccompanied minors who elect to depart the United States voluntarily.

The memo further clarified that the stipend is intended to aid reintegration efforts following their departure. However, it also noted that unaccompanied minors from Mexico will not be eligible for this benefit. Initially, the option will be offered to 17-year-old migrants and must receive approval from an immigration judge.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has pursued various measures to reduce the number of immigrant children in the US. This includes scaling back a federally funded program that provided legal aid to unaccompanied minors and imposing limitations on their legal representation. As of October 2, approximately 2,100 unaccompanied migrant children remain in US custody, with the administration intensifying efforts to repatriate them. This follows a previously blocked attempt in August to return dozens of Guatemalan children due to parental safety concerns.