Immigration Rules

Dozens of Honduran men, women, and families left San Pedro Sula on September 20, heading toward the Corinto border crossing with Guatemala in what appears to be the first such caravan of 2026.

Federal prosecutors are moving to strip a Honduran man of U.S. citizenship obtained in 2008, alleging he concealed a 1999 deportation order issued under a different name and hid his prior immigration history during naturalization.

A Colorado federal judge ordered US authorities to arrange the return of Brian Omar Sánchez, a Honduran deported to the Central African Republic, with authorities required to respond by September 25.

Nelson Romero-Martínez, 48, a Honduran convicted of stabbing two people at a children's birthday party in Connecticut in 2005 and guilty of another stabbing 18 years later, now faces federal charges for illegal reentry to the United States after deportation.

At least two Hondurans with legal protections against deportation to Honduras were flown to Liberia in August under a Trump administration policy allowing the US to expel migrants to third countries, leaving them separated from families in the United States.

Esli Osman Díaz Bejarano, 28, was arrested in Niagara Falls, New York on September 2 after allegedly biting a Border Patrol agent during a custody struggle, and now faces federal charges carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its public-charge inadmissibility rule effective September 18, 2026, which will affect Honduran and other migrants applying to adjust status and obtain permanent residency by evaluating their financial self-sufficiency and potential dependence on government benefits.

The United States has temporarily halted interviews for immigrant visas (for permanent residence) while consular staff receive training on evaluating applicants, delaying appointments for thousands of Hondurans seeking family reunification or work-based immigration.

Honduras's National Immigration Institute suspended passport services on August 20 for technical maintenance and platform updates, rescheduling affected appointments to Saturday in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba, with no extra fees.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed on August 18 that all TPS terminations — including for Hondurans — are now in effect after months of court battles, warning holders who remain in the country without status that they will be deported.

A US immigration appeals ruling means Hondurans with TPS, DACA, or pending asylum who leave the US — even with an authorized travel permit — could face a three- to ten-year bar on re-entry if they accumulated over 180 days of unlawful presence, advocates warn.

The Honduran Labor Ministry announced temporary job openings in Spain, Canada, and the United States for Honduran citizens meeting requirements including a clean criminal and migration record, with positions in agriculture, hospitality, logistics, and other sectors.

Chinese nationals arriving in Honduras for business and commerce have proliferated in major cities since the country formalized ties with China, with 218 of 622 Chinese arrivals through mid-July citing commercial reasons, prompting complaints from local merchants unable to compete on price.

US federal prosecutors charged 11 people with conspiracy and human trafficking resulting in death after seven migrants, including three Hondurans and a 14-year-old boy, died trapped in a sealed train container in Laredo, Texas in extreme heat.

INTERPOL Honduras arrested and deported an Ecuadorian citizen wanted by US authorities on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide after he was detained at the Las Manos border crossing attempting illegal entry.

Spain has made available 2,000 additional job openings for Hondurans following diplomatic negotiations by Honduras's embassy in Madrid.

A May law passed unanimously by Congress lets returning Honduran migrants import up to $150,000 in household goods and $100,000 in work equipment duty-free within 12 months of return.

Marleni Flores, president of the Louisiana Attorneys Association, says Honduran TPS beneficiaries are anxiously waiting on both a US government decision about their status and any further steps the Honduran government may take on their behalf.

A Consulting HNL survey found that 85.6% of Hondurans view migration as a necessity rather than a choice, citing insecurity, unemployment, debt, and lack of opportunity as the main drivers.

Arnold Alexander Ávila Guardado, 21, drowned in a river near Austin, Texas, after a sudden surge in water level swept him away while he was swimming with friends; his family is seeking funds to repatriate his body to Honduras.

Honduras's Labor Ministry announced recruitment calendars for its temporary-work program abroad: Spain will hold recruitment in October and November 2026 for farm and hospitality jobs, while the U.S. and Canada accept applications year-round for carnival workers, housekeepers, and construction helpers.

The US Department of Homeland Security has capped international student visa stays at four years and foreign journalist permits at 240 days (eight months), with extensions available if approved, affecting Honduran students and media professionals seeking to work or study in the United States.

Juan Flores, president of the Fundación 15 de Septiembre, says Honduras's Foreign Ministry and consulates are failing to address Honduran migrants hospitalized in the United States and calls on the human-rights commissioner to investigate the situation.

Honduras's new law exempts returned migrants—whether deported, voluntary returnees, or those with expired visas—from import taxes on household goods (up to $150,000), work tools and machinery (up to $100,000), and two vehicles per family, with processing handled through a unified online portal.

After the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans, migration specialist Julio Gannon says affected individuals have alternatives but should consult an immigration attorney to understand what benefits they may qualify for under US law.

With Honduras's TPS formally ended and the U.S. Supreme Court removing the last legal obstacles in June, Hondurans who did not secure another immigration status have lost work authorization and risk deportation, while the roughly 21,000 who obtained permanent residency by April 2025 remain protected.

Honduras's Foreign Ministry and Supreme Court have launched an online platform allowing Hondurans to request authenticated criminal records and apostilles (official document certifications) more quickly and cheaply, with apostilles costing 150 lempiras (about $6) and payable online or at consulates.

Three Honduran officials will train at Spain's National Police Academy through the EU-backed EUROFRONT program to strengthen migration intelligence and border management capabilities.

Over 56,300 Hondurans applied for Spain's extraordinary regularization program that closed June 30, making them the fifth-largest nationality group after Colombians, Moroccans, Venezuelans, and Peruvians, with decisions expected within three months.

Honduras's National Migration Institute reactivated a temporary legal-residency permit for children of Honduran parents born abroad, allowing them to remain legally in the country until age 21 for a processing fee of 200 lempiras (about $8).