PRESS RELEASE 

For immediate release 

December 10, 2025

Contact: press@alianzaamericas.org / (773) 638-4278

‍Chicago, IL- Alianza Americas, a network of Latin American and Caribbean immigrant organizations in the United States, rejects the idea of apprehending and deporting people who are voluntarily leaving the country. The Department of Homeland Security has insisted on a communications campaign that seeks to intimidate undocumented immigrants into leaving the country on their own to avoid arrest or deportation. However, some media outlets reported on a memorandum from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that directs agents to apprehend individuals who leave the country by land at the southern border if they are in an irregular immigration status. The operation was reportedly named "Operation Irish Goodbye." Individuals would be arrested, detained, and their deportation would be ordered. This operation would focus on individuals traveling on buses operated by passenger transport companies.

The intention is to increase their deportation numbers by targeting individuals already leaving the country, with the pretext they will arrest those with criminal or immigration records so they can be detained and deported, thereby issuing deportation orders that include re-entry bans. Those without criminal or immigration records will be free to leave and will be considered "voluntary returnees."

This is not an efficient measure and constitutes an irresponsible use of public resources. This is yet another measure by the Trump Administration to cause suffering to migrants in the United States. However, it is important to remember that individuals in deportation proceedings still have the right to defend themselves by applying for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture. In addition, many non-Mexican individuals leave by land because they do not have travel documents and there are no consular representations from their countries of origin in the United States, or because they are seeking international protection in another country.

It is unfortunate that the actions of the US government are guided by trivial motives, such as maintaining the narrative that this administration has deported more people than any other. The American people know firsthand that each deportation means uprooting community members, mothers and fathers of American children, and workers in agriculture, industry, and the service sector. Finally, the data shows that these arbitrary deportations and arrests have mostly targeted people with no criminal convictions.. The anti-immigrant narrative is based on falsehoods that are becoming increasingly impossible to maintain.

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Alianza Americas is a transnational network of migrant-led organizations in the United States. We advocate for social justice, equity and human rights in the Americas.

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