Migrants Increasingly Choosing to Leave the U.S.
A new report from the Vera Institute of Justice shows a dramatic increase in immigrants accepting “voluntary departure” orders in U.S. immigration courts during the Trump administration’s expanded immigration crackdown.
According to the report, voluntary departures jumped from about 800 per month near the end of the Biden administration to more than 8,800 by February 2026. The trend has been especially strong among migrants held in federal detention centers.
What Voluntary Departure Means
Voluntary departure allows migrants in removal proceedings to leave the United States without receiving a formal deportation order from an immigration judge. It differs from self-deportation programs managed by the Department of Homeland Security, where migrants independently notify officials of plans to leave the country.
Researchers say the rise does not necessarily mean migrants want to leave voluntarily.
“Many people may still have legal pathways to remain in the United States,” report co-author Jacquelyn Pavilon said, noting that detention conditions and legal pressure may influence decisions.
New Judges Granting More Departures
The report also found that newly appointed immigration judges under President Donald Trump are approving voluntary departures at higher rates than more experienced judges.
More than 93% of initially detained cases assigned to those judges ended with outcomes requiring migrants to leave the country, either through deportation or voluntary departure.
Researchers additionally found migrants with legal representation were less likely to be encouraged to leave the U.S.
Immigration Enforcement Expands
The Vera Institute says the data reflects broader efforts by the administration to accelerate removals while avoiding lengthy court battles. The findings were based on federal immigration court records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
A spokesperson for DHS did not immediately comment on the report.
For the latest on immigration enforcement and its effects, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.