Illegal Migrants Leaving On Their Own In Win For Trump Admin
As President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to deport illegal aliens, with some being sent to Central American prisons, many individuals residing in the United States unlawfully are opting to self-deport, according to a recent report.
A weekend report from the New York Times reveals that in Denver—a city that has taken in more illegal migrants per capita than any other major U.S. city—there is a growing trend among foreign nationals considering self-deportation.
This shift represents a stark contrast to the policies under the Biden administration, during which immigration officials permitted millions of foreign nationals to seek asylum and remain in the country. For years, Republicans have contended that Biden’s approach allowed an influx of illegal migrants as a way to boost electoral support for Democrats in states experiencing a decline in native-born populations.
The Times highlights the case of a 29-year-old Venezuelan national named Christian, who arrived in Denver in 2023, sought asylum, and obtained a work permit. However, since Trump’s return to the White House, he has reconsidered his decision to stay.
“He sends money to his wife and children in Venezuela. Christian does not have any tattoos, a customary gang indicator, he said. He possesses a work permit and an active asylum application, which theoretically protects him from imminent deportation,” The Times reported.
“I just hope to manage to leave before they deport me,” a 29-year-old Venezuelan named Jesus told the outlet.
He explained that he arrived in the United States in 2024 and was detained before being released. However, he now prefers to leave voluntarily rather than face deportation.
“I came here to work to help my family,” said Jesús, who has five sisters.
A Venezuelan couple, Karla and Ender, who have four children, noted that their quality of life in Colorado is significantly better than it was in Venezuela.
“You can barely make enough money to feed your family in Venezuela,” Karla told The Times. “We live much better here.”
“We’ll leave once we have accomplished our goals, maybe in two years,” Ender added.
Recently, a staff member from New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s office, who was reportedly in the U.S. illegally, also chose to leave the country.
Diego de la Vega, originally from Ecuador, arrived in the United States as a child in 2001 on a visitor’s visa, which he later overstayed, according to Migrant Insider. He later became a recipient of then-President Barack Obama’s DACA—Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals—program, which granted him temporary protection from deportation. The Supreme Court upheld DACA during Trump’s first term.
However, questions have arisen regarding his employment status in Ocasio-Cortez’s office, Fox News reported.
“It’s bittersweet. I hadn’t left the country in 23 years—from age seven to age 30,” de la Vega told Migrant Insider. “Now, I can’t go back to the U.S. It feels like exile. It’s a very permanent move. But my wife and I are confident we made the right decision. And, after some time, it’s been a real pleasure to be here.
“It feels surreal to not be illegalized anymore. I don’t have to live in the shadows or constantly worry about paperwork,” he added. “That freedom of movement is incredibly satisfying.”
Following the failure of the Dream Act in 2010—falling short in the Senate by only five votes—de la Vega became politically active. After working with an immigrant rights organization, he served as communications director for Robert Rodriguez, a former New York State Assembly member who now oversees the New York State Dormitory Authority, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In 2021, de la Vega joined Ocasio-Cortez’s re-election campaign and eventually became deputy communications director, Fox reported.
“Diego is amazing,” Ocasio-Cortez told the news outlet. “We love him.”
It is worth noting that DACA recipients are not permitted to hold paid positions in congressional offices.
“We were always honest with voters in New York City,” de la Vega said about working with Ocasio-Cortez. “We didn’t dumb it down or tell them what they wanted to hear. We engaged with them honestly. We listened, then explained that Alexandria was fighting for reform, but Republicans were blocking it.”