Hondurans Fear Deportation, Increase Remittances Home

Tue Mar 17 2026 14:38:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As fear of deportation grows among Hondurans in the US, an unprecedented rise in remittances back home has been noted, reflecting the economic pressures faced by undocumented immigrants.

In light of the intensified immigration crackdown under Trump's administration, many Hondurans residing in the US are opting to send more money back home than ever before. With deportation fears affecting their plans, they focus on providing for their families financially. Remittances to Honduras have surged by 26% this year, indicating a desperate push to secure their loved ones' futures amidst widespread uncertainty and economic struggles in Honduras.

For over a year, Elías Padilla had been saving up to make the journey from Honduras to the United States as an undocumented immigrant.

As an Uber driver in the snarled streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa, it hasn't been easy for him to put money aside. On bad days he makes as little as $12 (£9) in 12 hours.

Now, though, his plans are on hold.

The images of undocumented immigrants in major US cities being dragged away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, their wrists in zip-ties, have deterred at least one would-be immigrant in Central America from travelling north.

I want to improve my life conditions because we earn very little here, Elías explains as we drive around the city. Take this line of work, for example: an Uber driver in the US makes in an hour what I'd make in a day.

Like most Honduran immigrants, Elías says the main aim of reaching the US would be to send remittances home.

But I see what Trump is doing, and it's made me think twice, he admits.

I'm going to wait to see what the change in government here brings, he says, referring to the recent presidential election. Hopefully things will improve.

Elías's change of heart will doubtless be welcome news to the architects of President Donald Trump's immigration policies including border czar Tom Homan and homeland security adviser Steven Miller.

As well as removing undocumented immigrants from US soil, the controversial ICE operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis were always intended also to dissuade people like Elías from attempting to leave Honduras.

However, the policies have brought an unexpected windfall to the Honduran economy: thousands of Hondurans who live undocumented in those cities are sending home more remittances than ever.

With a looming threat or deadline over their futures, many are trying to send every spare dollar back to their families before it is too late. Between January and October this year, remittances to Honduras increased by 26% compared to the same period in the previous year, totaling over $10.1bn in just the first nine months.

Marcos (not his real name), who has been living in the US for five years working in construction, spoke about sending home money. Most of the money I send home is for the family to cover their basics like food, but also, so they can put something aside to buy a little land on which we can eventually build a house, maybe buy a car, he said.

He has steadily increased his monthly remittance from $500 to about $300 a week. Marcos also emphasizes the race against time to send money home before potential deportation arrests commence.

In summary, while Trump’s tough immigration stance has dissuaded many from migrating, it has paradoxically stimulated a surge in remittances, bolstering the economy back home in Honduras as families brace for uncertain futures.