How US Migrants Are Rushing to Send Money Home Before Trump’s Deportation Drive

Amid rising fears of deportation under President Donald Trump’s administration, Central American migrants living in the United States are sending more money home at unprecedented rates, according to new data released this week.

Remittances from U.S.-based migrants to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua surged significantly in the first quarter of 2025, contributing nearly a quarter of these countries’ GDP. Economists say the surge is a defensive response by migrants anticipating possible deportation.

Guatemala’s central bank reported a record $5.64 billion in remittances between January and March—an increase of 20.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Honduras also saw a 24% jump, receiving $2.62 billion during the same timeframe.

Partial data from El Salvador and Nicaragua shows similar trends. El Salvador received $1.4 billion in January and February, while Nicaragua recorded $909 million in the same period—a 14.2% and 22.6% increase respectively over the previous year.

In Nicaragua, remittance inflows included funds from the U.S., Costa Rica ($68.2 million), and Spain ($48.6 million). Analysts suggest migrants may be sending money back in greater amounts to secure savings at home or support relatives while they are still able to earn in the U.S.

Guatemala’s central bank president, Alvaro Gonzalez, confirmed that concerns about immigration enforcement were behind the spike. Economic expert Erick Coyoy added that the remittance boom reflects migrants’ “anticipated reaction to the perceived risk of deportation.”

President Trump, who returned to office in January, campaigned on promises to initiate the largest migrant deportation operation in U.S. history—prompting widespread anxiety among immigrant communities and reshaping financial flows across borders.