
(TheIndependentStar.com) – In a positive trend, a rise of self-deportation among illegal immigrants in the United States is a testament to the impact of a stringent immigration policy under Donald Trump even before his inauguration.
See the tweet below!
Even those with legal status, like former Nicaraguan student leader Michel Bérrios, are choosing to leave due to uncertainty and increased hostility.
Bérrios, despite holding legal status, felt compelled to leave the U.S. because of the emerging threats of mass deportations under President Trump.
The fear of deportation is not limited to those without papers, as many with temporary protected status or humanitarian parole also face precarious futures.
In fact, approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. hold such statuses, and Trump’s administration has openly targeted these pathways for termination, The Boston Globe writes in a report.
For Bérrios, the feeling of uncertainty began after witnessing an anti-immigrant sentiment rise in her Californian workplace following Trump’s election.
Having previously lived in hiding in Nicaragua, she realized this evolving U.S. climate was not something she was willing to endure again.
Michel confessed, “Because (the U.S.) is not a Third World country like the ones many of us come from, I thought there would be a different culture here, and it was a rude awakening to realize that you and your family are not welcome”.
Some immigrants are already leaving the U.S. in ‘self-deportations’ as Trump’s threats loomhttps://t.co/aTKziBrFyc pic.twitter.com/p7KtHqPuXw
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 16, 2025
Facing this harsh reality, Bérrios opted for Ireland, seeking a less confrontational asylum process.
Unlike the tedious and uncertain U.S. system, Ireland provided her with a government-issued ID and an expectation of a fair asylum decision.
Her move is indicative of a broader trend where immigrants perceive leaving as less daunting than navigating a hostile environment.
“The reasons I left the United States are not only the uncertainty you’re living with as (Trump) returns to power, but also because it’s a country where people don’t have a sense of humanism. ‘Love thy neighbor’ doesn’t exist,” Bérrios said, cited by AP.
Bérrios’ experience sheds light on the broader implications of self-deportation trends.
According to the report, while President Trump’s policies aim to curtail illegal immigration and preserve jobs for citizens, they inadvertently strain the very fabric of America’s labor force.
Copyright 2025, TheIndependentStar.com