As the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, Hondurans living in the United States are responding with a historic surge in remittances. Fearing that their time in the country may be limited, many are sending home every spare dollar to secure their families’ futures before potential detention or removal.
Between January and September 2025, remittances to Honduras spiked to over $10.1 billion, a significant jump from the $9.7 billion recorded in the entirety of 2024. This “race against time” is driven by a sense of urgency; undocumented workers, like Marcos in construction, have nearly tripled their weekly transfers—moving from $500 a month to $300 a week—to ensure a financial safety net exists back home.
While the crackdown has successfully deterred some would-be migrants like Uber driver Elías Padilla, who halted his journey due to the high risk of deportation, it has also created an unintended economic windfall for Honduras. Remittances now account for approximately 26% of the country’s GDP. However, the cost of migration has skyrocketed; people-smugglers have nearly doubled their fees to as much as $30,000 per person, reflecting the increased difficulty and danger of the journey north.
