Since Donald Trump took office, American authorities have toughened their stance, systematically detaining and then deporting illegal immigrants. The measure affects more than 11 million people living in the United States – including Hungarians. Affected individuals have either been working illegally, overstayed their visa or residence permit, or, in the case of Hungarian and other Western citizens, exceeded the 90-day limit of the visa waiver programme (ESTA).
We receive daily inquiries and calls from Hungarian families because their relatives have been taken by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Once someone is caught and detained by the authorities, they end up in what is known as an immigration detention centre, from which it is very difficult to be released. Every day, hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people staying illegally in the U.S. are arrested and placed in immigration detention before being deported to their home country
– told 24.hu Áron Szabó, an attorney practising in the U.S., whose office specialises in immigration and foreigner-related legal matters. In his view, Hungarian citizens can expect the same treatment as individuals from Mexico or other Latin American countries.
„There were states that previously welcomed immigrants more easily, allowing them to live in relative peace and without fear. This was the case in places like New York, Illinois (i.e., around Chicago), and parts of California. However, even in these states, people living illegally are no longer safe. It is perhaps no coincidence that a significant number of the raids announced by Donald Trump began in these very locations. Returning to the situation concerning our fellow countrymen: I personally know of several Hungarians who, due to the stricter measures, chose to leave the U.S. voluntarily” – the lawyer added. He advised Hungarians (and everyone else) staying in the U.S. on expired travel authorisations or visas to be cautious and avoid encounters with law enforcement.
Although Szabó doesn’t know any precise figures, he estimates that
Further and stricter measures are expected in the near future, which could impact all immigrants living in the U.S. For example, Trump issued an executive order overriding the principle of territorial birthright citizenship in the American legal system. Previously, any child born in the U.S. automatically acquired American citizenship, regardless of their parents’ nationality. However, under Trump’s order, children born in the U.S. will no longer automatically receive citizenship if their parents are not American citizens.
According to Áron Szabó, the lives of illegal immigrants – including those who have overstayed their visas – are being made increasingly difficult by continuous restrictions.
After May 8, boarding a domestic flight will only be possible with a so-called certified identification card or passport (REAL ID) with a valid visa. For those who have lived in the U.S. for years or even decades without proper documents, obtaining such identification is practically impossible. Additionally, road traffic checks are also becoming significantly stricter, and since those staying in the U.S. illegally cannot obtain a driver’s licence, even a simple police stop could more easily lead to deportation. It also appears that in the future, those affected may face similar restrictions in healthcare, education, and even when searching for rental housing. As a result, many are opting to leave the U.S. voluntarily
– the lawyer explained. He expects that in the near future, the number of deportations could be in the millions.
We contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade multiple times with the question of how many Hungarian citizens have been either taken into immigration detention or deported by U.S. authorities so far, but we received no answer. Enquiries were also made to first the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and then, at the suggestion of the U.S. Embassy, to the Department of Homeland Security, but no substantive response has arrived yet.
What can be known is that 1–2% of Hungarians travelling to the U.S. do not leave the country on time, meaning they stay illegally. In the 2023 fiscal year (October 2022 to September 2023), for example, a total of
among those who entered the country during that period, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s report.
The proportion of Hungarians violating immigration laws has decreased compared to previous years, as only 1.19% failed to leave the country after their authorised stay had expired – whereas in 2022, this figure exceeded 2%. However, among countries that, like Hungary, enjoy visa-free travel, only 0.62% of travellers violated the rules.
Anyone failing to comply with the regulations faces penalties in all cases, even if their travel authorisation expires by just a single day. If they leave the U.S. voluntarily, they can still be banned from re-entering for years and will only be able to return by applying for a visa. Those who do not leave voluntarily may face even harsher consequences: if caught, they may be immediately arrested, placed in immigration detention for up to three months, deported, and banned from the U.S. for 5–10 years.
