Trump's deportation drive forces Latin American couples into wrenching choices
The Trump administration's accelerated deportation operations are forcing couples who have lived in the US for years to choose between separation and emigrating together. Latin American communities are bearing the brunt of the impact. Annual removals are projected to exceed 600,000 this year.
ICE operations have ramped up sharply since Trump took office. Mexican, Honduran and Venezuelan couples who spoke to the BBC say they are caught between their children's school year and looming removal dates. Some are choosing voluntary self-departure and returning to Latin America.
International Organization for Migration data show that returns through Mexico in the first four months of 2026 rose 35% year on year. Removals to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are also up in double digits. Consulates report struggling to keep up with legal aid requests across the network.
Latin American governments are pushing the US for bilateral work visa arrangements. Brazil and Colombia have set aside funds for vocational programmes for returnees. Regional currencies, including the Mexican peso, face pressure on remittance flows. Federal Reserve data showed remittance inflows contracted 4% year on year in February.
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