On March 11, 2025, Rajani Srinivasan made headlines by becoming one of the first users of a new self-deportation feature available on the CBP Home App. Following the revocation of her visa, she chose to leave the United States voluntarily instead of going through a formal deportation process.
Rajani, originally from India, came to the U.S. several years ago on an F-1 student visa to study Urban Planning at Columbia University. However, her visa was revoked on March 5, 2025, amid allegations that she had been “advocating for violence and terrorism.” This action led her to utilize the self-deportation feature of the app, which is designed to help individuals in her situation exit the country more easily.
What is the CBP Home App? This application was introduced by the Department of Homeland Security to assist people who are living in the U.S. without proper documentation and wish to return to their home country. The app aims to streamline the self-deportation process, making it safer and more efficient for users.
The CBP Home App emerged following the discontinuation of the previous CBP One app and is offered at no cost for mobile users. Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, has emphasized that this new app simplifies the process for individuals wishing to notify authorities of their intent to leave the U.S.
Noem stated that the app provides individuals the option to depart voluntarily, thereby allowing them the possibility of returning to the U.S. legally in the future. If they do not take this chance, she warned that authorities would locate and deport them without any chance of return.
This self-deportation initiative is part of a broader $200 million campaign aimed at encouraging undocumented immigrants to leave the country. The Department of Homeland Security believes that by facilitating self-deportation, they can enhance the integrity of the immigration system while promoting compliance with immigration laws.
In summary, Rajani Srinivasan’s experience highlights the changing landscape of immigration policies in the U.S., integrating technology to offer more options for individuals facing visa issues.
