Deported Hondurans stepped off a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane, greeted by officials, journalists, and uncertainty. Some, like Daniel Hernandez and Carlos Rivera, had been caught at the border after risking everything for a chance at a better life. Now, they planned to stay and rebuild in Honduras, wary of the dangers of another attempt. Others, like Denis Lopez, who left behind a wife and daughter in the U.S., faced a painful separation but knew another attempt could land them in federal prison.

Trump’s expanded deportation program, now using military-run flights, is costing the U.S. thousands per deportee—one flight alone surpassed $114,000. Meanwhile, many returnees arrive with nothing, having sold their homes to pay smugglers, only to be sent back with no safety net. Some will seek to restart their lives in Honduras, while others, with few options, will set off again on the perilous journey north.