Immigrants Choose to Leave U.S. Voluntarily Amidst Anticipation of Stricter Enforcement

January 17, 2025 - Washington, D.C.: In an unexpected turn of events as Donald Trump prepares for his second inauguration, a noticeable trend of self-deportations has emerged among immigrants in the United States. This movement, driven by fear of the incoming administration's promised stringent immigration policies, is reshaping the narrative around immigration enforcement even before Trump takes office.

Michel Bérrios, a former leader of a Nicaraguan student uprising who had been legally residing in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program, decided to leave for Ireland just before the New Year. Her case exemplifies a broader trend where individuals, both documented and undocumented, are choosing to leave the country out of concern for their future under Trump's administration.

Bérrios shared with the Associated Press her disillusionment with the American dream, stating, "The reasons I left the United States are not only the uncertainty you're living with as [Trump] returns to power, but also because it's a country where people don't have a sense of humanism." Her departure underscores a growing sentiment among immigrants who feel unwelcome or unsafe in the current political climate.

Immigration advocates have noted an uptick in inquiries about self-deportation, with some individuals and families deciding it's safer to return to their home countries or seek asylum in other nations. This trend isn't limited to those without legal status; even those with temporary protections are reconsidering their stay in the U.S.

The phenomenon has been discussed widely on social media platforms like X, where opinions range from those who see this as a validation of Trump's hardline stance on immigration to others who lament the human cost and potential economic repercussions. Some posts celebrate the self-deportations as evidence of policy effectiveness, while others question the long-term implications for communities that have integrated immigrants into their social fabric.

Immigration attorneys, like Rolando Vasquez, have observed this shift, particularly among those who entered the country during the Biden administration. Vasquez noted, "We're seeing people who thought they had a secure place here now questioning that security." Mexico's willingness to accept non-Mexican deportees has also played a role, though concerns about the safety of these individuals from cartels and smugglers in Mexico remain.

As the inauguration approaches, the trend of self-deportation highlights a preemptive response from the immigrant community to policies that have yet to be enacted but are widely anticipated to be harsh. The exact numbers of those choosing to leave are hard to pin down, but the stories of individuals like Michel Bérrios paint a picture of a community in flux, navigating an uncertain future in America.

This story not only reflects the immediate human impact of political rhetoric but also sets the stage for what could be a significant shift in the U.S. immigration landscape under Trump's second term.