Voluntary Departures Hit Record — 80,000+ Immigrants Abandon Court Cases in 15 Months, 7× Biden Rate; March 2026 Alone Sees 9,000+

The Washington Post and CBS News reported on May 8, 2026 that immigration judges have issued more than 80,000 voluntary departure orders between January 2025 and March 2026 — at least seven times higher than the approximately 11,400 orders issued during the final 15 months of the Biden administration. Voluntary departure allows immigrants to leave the U.S. without a formal removal order, preserving some future ability to apply for legal status. In March 2026 alone, judges issued more than 9,000 voluntary departure orders — compared with an average of 750 per month under the Biden administration. The Vera Institute of Justice obtained the court data and shared it with the Washington Post. More than 70% of those granted voluntary departure under Trump's second term were in immigration detention at the time of their request — a far higher share than under Biden, when most voluntary departures involved non-detained individuals. Immigration attorneys told the Post that many clients are choosing to leave because they fear indefinite detention: ICE director Todd Lyons's July 2025 memo eliminated bond hearings for most detainees, meaning individuals face potentially months or years in custody while their cases proceed. The 'Homeward Bound Project' (CBP Home app) provides free charter flights and up to $2,600 per person as financial incentive. Advocates said the surge in voluntary departures represents a capitulation driven by detention conditions and legal hopelessness, not genuine voluntary choice — raising concerns that due process rights are being effectively waived under duress.