Voluntary departures spike as immigrants face squalid detention, pressure to leave

By: Tim Henderson

Outlets: Stateline

Published: May 26, 2026

Words: 1,475

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 4 days ago

Body Text Preview

A surge in voluntary departure agreements in immigration courts is raising concerns that Trump administration tactics are unfairly pressuring immigrants into leaving the United States, even if they have a legal right to stay.

Voluntary departures during the second Trump administration reached 89,494 cases as of May 1, according to a Stateline analysis of immigration court data processed by the Deportation Data Project, an academic research initiative. That’s more than seven times the number …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us