(UNITED STATES) — Hondurans in the United States sent more money home in 2025 as fears of deportation rose amid a Trump administration push to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and encourage “voluntary return.”
Remittances reached a historic high of $11.1 billion in the first eleven months of 2025, a 13.9% increase over the previous year, according to the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
Remittance surge and enforcement measures
The surge in remittances unfolded alongside a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) campaign promoting departures through the CBP Home app, which included:
– a $1,000 “exit bonus”
– a complimentary one-way plane ticket for Hondurans who agree to “self-deport” voluntarily
DHS’s year-end enforcement report (dated December 19, 2025) said more than 2.5 million illegal aliens left the U.S. in 2025, including 1.9 million self-deportations. DHS framed these numbers as part of a broader enforcement accomplishment.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are making America safe again. we won’t rest until the job is done,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in the year-end accomplishments report.
TPS termination, court challenge, and legal timeline
- Secretary Noem announced the termination of TPS for Honduras on July 7, 2025, saying conditions that led to the designation no longer existed.
“Temporary Protected Status was designed to be just that—temporary. It is clear that the Government of Honduras has taken all of the necessary steps to overcome the impacts of Hurricane Mitch, almost 27 years ago. Honduran citizens can safely return home, and DHS is here to help facilitate their voluntary return,” Noem said.
- A federal court fight disrupted the policy at the end of the year. A California federal judge voided the TPS termination on December 31, 2025.
- Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized that ruling on January 1, 2026:
“The ruling is yet another lawless and activist order from the federal judiciary who continues to usurp the President’s constitutional authority. TPS was never designed to be permanent, yet previous administrations have used it as a de facto amnesty program for decades,” McLaughlin said.
- DHS has signaled a near-certain appeal to the Ninth Circuit, leaving families in legal limbo.
Who is affected
- TPS holders from Honduras: approximately 60,000 to 72,000 people currently protected by TPS.
- Broader Honduran population in the U.S. (legal and unauthorized residents): estimated between 1.3 million and 1.8 million.
The original TPS designation for Honduras followed Hurricane Mitch in 1998, a history Noem cited when arguing the program should end.
Economic impact on Honduras
- Remittances accounted for more than 25% of Honduras’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025.
- The $11.1 billion sent in the first eleven months of 2025 has been described as a record, in part driven by migrants moving savings out of the U.S. as they prepare for possible removal.
The inflow of remittances provides immediate household support and foreign currency for Honduras. However, large-scale return of long-term residents could strain infrastructure and the labor market.
Immediate household responses and incentives
Many families have prioritized sending money home over longer-term planning in the U.S., engaging in what has been described as financial triage. Drivers include:
– Fear of deportation or loss of TPS protections
– Concern about maintaining work authorization
– Enforcement messaging and incentives via the CBP Home app
– Political debate over a potential 3.5% to 5% tax on remittances for non-citizens, which pushed migrants to send larger sums before such fees might be implemented
Work authorization and practical consequences
- TPS holders retain their work authorization documents until at least January 5, 2026, though the court ruling could extend that depending on appeals.
- Work authorization has been central to household decisions about whether to stay, send money, or leave.
Fraud warnings and vulnerability
The TPS court fight has opened opportunities for fraud targeting migrants desperate for clarity. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued alerts warning Hondurans to avoid “notario fraud,” in which unauthorized practitioners claim they can guarantee TPS extensions despite administration policy.
Beware of notario fraud and scams promising guaranteed TPS extensions. Rely only on USCIS alerts and trusted legal counsel; never pay for guarantees or rushed filings.
Broader stakes and the outlook
- Short-term: rising remittances provide immediate relief for families and bolster Honduras’ foreign currency reserves.
- Medium-to-long term: outcomes depend on whether TPS protections continue and whether Hondurans remain working in the U.S. or begin leaving in larger numbers.
- Legal uncertainty, enforcement pressure, and proposed remittance fees have pushed remittances to the center of household decision-making, reshaping how Hondurans in the U.S. manage savings and support relatives back home.
For Honduran families, the core stakes remain: legal status, jobs tied to work authorization, and the money they send home as a buffer against the uncertain outcomes of the ongoing legal and policy battle.
Remittances to Honduras reached a historic $11.1 billion in 2025, fueled by immigration uncertainty and DHS efforts to end TPS. The administration introduced incentives for voluntary return, including cash bonuses and plane tickets. While a court ruling recently blocked the termination of TPS, the legal battle continues, creating financial and emotional instability for nearly 1.8 million Hondurans living in the United States.
