As immigration enforcement tightens under President Donald Trump’s administration, a new wave of fear is sweeping through immigrant communities in the United States. Many undocumented migrants, especially recent arrivals, are considering or have already opted for voluntary departure to avoid forced deportation. While the government struggles to deport an estimated 14 million undocumented immigrants, many are making the difficult decision to leave on their own terms, fearing detention, family separation, and an uncertain future.
The Rise of Self-Deportation
The concept of self-deportation—long ridiculed as an unrealistic solution—has gained traction under Trump’s aggressive immigration policies. Homeland Security officials have taken to the airwaves, urging undocumented migrants to “leave now” or risk being hunted down and deported. Migrants who comply voluntarily are promised a slim chance to return legally in the future, although U.S. immigration laws often bar them from reentry for up to a decade.
Miriam Jordan, a journalist covering immigration, recently reported that immigrants are seriously considering voluntary departure for the first time in her 15 years on the beat. “If the climate becomes intolerable — if the risks of being caught and severed from their families seem too high — many more migrants may abandon the United States,” she wrote.
Denver: A Microcosm of Fear and Resilience
Denver, Colorado, which has absorbed 40,000 migrants in recent years — the most per capita of any U.S. city — has become a focal point of these shifting sentiments. Many of the newcomers are Venezuelans fleeing the economic collapse and violence in their home country. However, the city is also home to long-term Latino immigrants, like Mirna, a Mexican woman who has lived in the U.S. for 28 years. Her husband runs a house-painting business, and they have three American-born children, including a daughter serving in the U.S. Navy. Despite the challenges, Mirna insists she will not leave because returning to Mexico would mean abandoning her family.
In contrast, newer arrivals like Cristian, a 29-year-old Venezuelan, are less confident about staying. Despite holding a work permit and an active asylum application, Cristian fears that the changing enforcement environment could lead to his detention. He has taken steps to leave the country to avoid potential deportation voluntarily. “The enforcement climate since Trump took office has changed my calculus 360 degrees,” Cristian admitted.
Rising Concerns Among New Migrants
Recent arrivals, particularly young Venezuelan men, are feeling the pressure. Graphic footage of shackled migrants and stories of deportations to gang-infested regions in El Salvador have instilled fear. Jesús, 25, who endured months in detention before being released last year, has decided that returning voluntarily is preferable to facing renewed confinement. “I came here to work and help my family,” he said. “I just hope to manage to leave before they deport me.”
Complicating matters, many migrants have had their passports confiscated by U.S. authorities, making it difficult to leave. Local volunteers in Denver have stepped in, assisting migrants with navigating bureaucratic hurdles and advising them on the safest ways to depart — whether by air or land.
Wider Impact: Beyond Denver
The phenomenon of voluntary departure is not limited to Denver. Migrants in Chicago, Springfield, Ohio, and Houston are also considering leaving the United States due to rising uncertainty and fear. In Springfield, where Trump falsely claimed that Haitian migrants were “eating the town’s pets,” employers have reported a noticeable decline in the local migrant population.
When Will Migrants Leave?
Despite the anxiety, most migrants are holding out, limiting their public activities and maintaining a low profile. For many, the decision to stay or leave hinges on job prospects. A crackdown on U.S. businesses employing undocumented workers or an economic downturn could force more migrants to return home.
Karla and Ender, a Venezuelan couple with four children, exemplify this cautious optimism. Since arriving in Colorado in late 2023, they have secured steady work, bought two cars, and moved into better housing. “You can barely make enough money to feed your family in Venezuela,” Karla said. “We live much better here.” Ender added, “We’ll leave once we have accomplished our goals, maybe in two years.”
Conclusion: A Nation in Flux
As the United States grapples with its complex immigration challenges, the fate of millions hangs in the balance. Whether by force or by choice, the growing wave of voluntary departures signals the profound impact of Trump’s policies on immigrant communities. While some will stay and endure, others are choosing to walk away from the American dream they once sought.
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-The New York Times
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