Remittances to Honduras Rise Amidst Migration Challenges and Enforcement Actions
Remittances to Honduras increased by 26% year-on-year from January to October, exceeding $10.1 billion in the first nine months of the year compared to $9.7 billion in all of 2024.
This growth in remittances occurs despite a shrinking Honduran migrant presence in the United States, as many undocumented Hondurans continue to send money home amid fears of deportation and ICE raids.
Under Donald Trump's administration, U.S. enforcement actions included raids in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and Minneapolis, aiming to deter migration and create fear among potential migrants.
Elías Padilla, a driver in Tegucigalpa, postponed plans to migrate to the U.S. due to concerns about detention, deportation, and the likelihood of long-term detention.
In the U.S., a Honduran migrant named Marcos reported sending approximately $300 per week to his family, an increase from about $500 per month previously, to cover basic needs and save for land or a house.
The illegal migration economy has felt the impact as smuggling prices have doubled to around $25,000–$30,000 per person with fewer individuals attempting the journey. Nonetheless, about 40% of migrants still manage to enter the U.S. through the Biden-era CBP One asylum pathway.
The CBP One app, established under the Biden administration as a legal route for asylum seekers, has reduced but not stopped crossings. Smuggling networks in Mexico, largely operated by organized crime, remain active.
