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DHS self-deportation post featuring Taj Mahal draws flak
The campaign’s use of the Taj Mahal has sparked criticism over linking a global cultural landmark to illegal immigration.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 18, Mar 2026
- 15:34 EDT
- 31
DHS self-deportation post featuring Taj Mahal / X/ DHS
A self-deportation poster published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) featuring India’s Taj Mahal has drawn criticism over the use of a prominent cultural symbol.
The visual, shared on X, featured the monument stating, "Fly to India for free," while advertising free flights and a $2,600 exit bonus for migrants who voluntarily leave the United States.
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Highlighting the offer, DHS wrote, “You can go home with a fresh start! Receive a FREE flight home and a $2,600 exit bonus when you use CBP Home to self-deport.”
The Taj Mahal is India's crown jewel, a symbol that the entire world associates with beauty, culture and heritage. Nations proudly use such iconic monuments to promote tourism and civilizational pride.
— P. Kumaran (@Kumaran_TVK) March 18, 2026
But the US Department of Homeland Security has chosen to use our beloved Taj…
The campaign used country-specific imagery, including the Taj Mahal, alongside visuals linked to China and Colombia, indicating targeted messaging for undocumented migrants from those countries.
The use of the Taj Mahal—widely regarded as one of India’s and the world’s most recognizable cultural symbols—has triggered criticism, with concerns that the imagery links a national heritage site to illegal immigration.
P. Kumaran, a member of Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), a regional political party in southern India, said in a post on X, “The Taj Mahal is India's crown jewel, a symbol that the entire world associates with beauty, culture and heritage. Nations proudly use such iconic monuments to promote tourism and civilizational pride. But the US Department of Homeland Security has chosen to use our beloved Taj Mahal in a self-deportation campaign poster, directly linking India's greatest heritage symbol with illegal immigration. This is not just insensitive, it is deeply disrespectful to 1.4 billion Indians.”
The campaign forms part of a broader US effort to encourage voluntary departures under “Project Homecoming,” launched in 2025. The program offers financial incentives and government-funded travel to undocumented migrants who agree to leave, positioning it as a cost-effective alternative to enforced deportations.
Officials have said voluntary departures significantly reduce enforcement costs compared to forced removals, while allowing migrants to leave without arrest or detention.
According to estimates over 700,000 Indians are living in the United States without legal status, forming the third largest illegal immigrants group in the country. The U.S. has increased deportations of Indian nationals, with over 3,800 Indians deported in 2025 alone. The Indian government has stated it is cooperating with the U.S. to take back its citizens who are in the country illegally.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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