Increased third country removals made more asylum seekers abandon their hopes for asylum. Additionally, an increased number of individuals in detention were removed to third countries. According to CBS, many individuals feel waiting indefinitely for an asylum hearing is worse than the threat of deportation.
The government’s issued third country removal notifications for more than twenty-four thousand people since January, 2025. However, only a small fraction of those were removed to a country other than their country of origin. This is mainly due to restrictions surrounding third country agreements. For example, Honduras only agreed to ten non-Honduran removals each month. Only sixty individuals were removed to Honduras as of April, 2026.
According to U.S. immigration court data through March 31, 2026, at least sixteen percent of all asylum seekers abandoned their asylum claims. Additionally, over seventy-five thousand asylum cases received a termination notice for their proceedings without a hearing. This was relatively rare until October, 2025. This is because the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) ruled that immigration judges must decide on motions for third-country removal before considering whether someone qualifies for asylum.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.