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The voluntary departures of detained immigrants in the United States reached a record 28% in 2025, according to an analysis by CBS News based on decades of court records.
The study revealed that more than a quarter of the detained foreigners who were ultimately deported withdrew their cases before a judge and chose to leave the country instead of continuing the legal battle.
The percentage rose nearly every month of the year and reached 38% in December 2025. This figure significantly surpasses the 21% recorded in 2018 and the 19% from 1985, which were the highest levels up to that point.
The increase is attributed to the intensification of the immigration policy under President Donald Trump's administration and the rise in the population in detention centers. The analysis does not include those who did not have a hearing before an immigration judge.
Another determining factor is the reduction in granted bail. In 2025, only 30% of bail decisions were favorable to the detainees, compared to 59% in 2024.
Behind the rise in voluntary departures are practical and legal factors. Many detainees do not qualify for any immigration relief that would allow them to remain free in the country and face low chances of success before a judge.
In that context, some choose to abandon their case and leave voluntarily to avoid a formal deportation order, which could lead to longer immigration penalties, thus hastening a process they consider to be lost.
On the other hand, in recent months, there have been increasing reports of human rights violations in ICE detention centers. Activists are demanding an investigation into the practices of immigration authorities in the U.S. and are calling for guarantees of dignified treatment for immigrants in federal custody.
In mid-January, around 73,000 people were in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including thousands of Cubans awaiting the resolution of their cases or their deportation.
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