Over 429 immigrants in San Francisco have sought voluntary departure between January 2025 and February 2026, many after the Department of Homeland Security filed "pretermit motions" to deport them to third countries where they have no ties. Victoria Hernandez, a Colombian asylum-seeker who fled armed group threats, chose voluntary departure rather than face potential removal to Honduras or Ecuador and the costly appeal process. Immigration advocates report that judges increasingly present voluntary departure as an option, while asylum-seekers face uncertainty about travel reimbursement and fear of danger upon return to their countries of origin.