Increases in third country removals made more asylum seekers willingly. Additionally, an increased number of individuals in detention were removed to third countries. According to CBS, detained asylum seekers view removal more preferably than waiting for a hearing.

Third country removal is when the U.S. government removes undocumented migrants to a country that isn’t their country of origin. The government’s issued third country removal orders for more than twenty-four thousand people since January, 2025. However, only a small fraction of those were removed. 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.

At least sixteen percent of all asylum seekers abandoned their asylum claims, per U.S. immigration court data through late March 2026. Additionally, over seventy-five thousand asylum cases received a termination of proceedings notice without a hearing. This was relatively rare until October, 2025. That month 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, Immigration USA 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, we’re with you every step of the way.