Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador brace for the impact of potential mass deportations under Trump’s presidency.
The United States is home to millions of migrants from Central America, many of whom are undocumented. Now, as President-elect Donald Trump threatens sweeping deportation policies, countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador are preparing for an influx of vulnerable deportees, raising concerns about economic instability and humanitarian crises in the region.
The Human Cost of Deportations
Norma, a 69-year-old Honduran woman, fled her home in October after receiving death threats and witnessing the murder of a family member by gang members. Spending her life savings on the journey north, she sought asylum in the U.S. but was denied and deported. Norma now faces the same threats she tried to escape.
“They can find us in every corner of Honduras,” Norma shared, clutching a foam cup of coffee at a migrant processing facility in San Pedro Sula. Like many deportees, she feels abandoned by her government and is left to grapple with poverty and violence.
Trump’s Tougher Immigration Policies
Trump’s administration is expected to expand fast-track deportation authority across the U.S., prioritizing migrants from Central America. Jason Houser, former Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief of staff, warns that deportations could disproportionately target “the most vulnerable” migrants who have no criminal records but removal orders.
“Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans need to be very nervous because Trump officials will push the bounds of the law,” Houser said.
Economic and Humanitarian Challenges
Honduras has received about 500,000 deportees since 2015, a significant strain on its resources. Upon arrival, migrants are greeted with minimal aid—coffee, a small plate of food, and hygiene kits—but little support is available beyond that.
Antonio García, Honduras’ deputy foreign minister, admits the country lacks the capacity to handle mass deportations. “There’s very little here for deportees. They are the last to be taken care of,” he said.
For many deportees, reintegration is an uphill battle. Larissa Martínez, deported in 2021, struggles to support her three children while repaying $5,000 in debt incurred during her journey north. Living in a makeshift home in San Pedro Sula, she has been unable to find stable employment.
“If I don’t find work in December, I’ll leave in January,” Martínez said, expressing a sentiment shared by many deportees who see no future in their home country.
A Looming Humanitarian Crisis
Humanitarian organizations in Honduras, such as the Mennonite Social Action Commission, are already stretched thin. Three deportation flights arrive weekly, and aid networks are ill-equipped to manage a significant increase in returnees.
“We’re at the brink of a new humanitarian crisis,” said César Muñoz, a leader at the commission.
Honduras and neighboring countries heavily rely on remittances from migrants in the U.S., which could drop sharply under Trump’s policies, further destabilizing local economies.
Efforts to Return
Despite the risks, many deportees attempt to return to the U.S. Driven by poverty and violence, they seek out smugglers offering “packages” with multiple attempts to cross the border.
Kimberly Orellana, 26, was deported after spending three months in a Texas detention facility. Yet, she is already planning to return to reunite with her 4-year-old daughter in North Carolina.
“Now, being here, it’s difficult to know if I’ll ever be able to follow through with that promise,” Orellana said.
Regional Responses
Guatemala, which has over 750,000 undocumented citizens in the U.S., is preparing strategies to handle mass deportations. Meanwhile, Mexico is bolstering legal services at its U.S. consulates. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged Trump to deport non-Mexicans directly to their countries of origin.
Honduran officials, however, remain skeptical of Trump’s threats. García noted the economic benefits that immigrants bring to the U.S. and the logistical challenges of mass deportations.
An Uncertain Future
As deportations rise, the cycle of migration is likely to continue. Poverty, violence, and the hope for a better future drive deportees to attempt the journey north, often at great personal risk.
Despite the challenges, many migrants, like Norma and Kimberly, feel they have no choice but to try again. For them, the promise of safety and opportunity in the U.S. outweighs the dangers of the journey and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.