Pay-to-Go Schemes and Other Noncoercive Return Programs: Is Scale Possible?

For decades, some immigrant-receiving countries have experimented with policies designed to encourage unauthorized immigrants to leave without the cost, legal barriers and political obstacles that result from removals or forced returns. These initiatives–known as pay-to-go, noncoercive, voluntary, assisted voluntary or nonforced returns—offer paid travel and/or a financial incentive to persuade target populations to cooperate with immigration authorities. 

The authors examine the programs’ long history of failure on the ground, but conclude that such initiatives could be an important part of the policy tool kit to reduce illegal immigration with proper experimentation and evaluation. 

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