The Department of Homeland Security announced that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the United States this year through deportations and voluntary departures, marking what officials called a record-setting achievement under President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
According to a statement from DHS released Dec. 10, roughly 605,000 individuals were deported through enforcement operations, while another 1.9 million self-deported since January using new federal incentives. DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said more than 595,000 illegal aliens had been arrested by federal officers this year. “Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now. They know if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” she said.
As part of the administration’s initiative, the CBP Home app allows individuals to voluntarily depart and receive a $1,000 stipend along with a free flight home. Officials said the approach has accelerated repatriations and contributed to what DHS called “a resurgence in local job markets,” with employment gains in September and October reflecting tighter labor conditions.
President Donald Trump praised DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for achieving what he called “the best border in the history of our country” in an X post. Noem, in her own statement, credited the Homeland Security Advisory Council for guiding the department’s success. “The men and women of this council provide their experience and insights to help deliver seven consecutive months of zero illegal entries, a revitalized Coast Guard, and more than 2.4 million deportations,” she said.
While supporters hailed the deportation record as a major milestone in restoring border integrity, Democratic lawmakers introduced the Dream Act of 2025 on Dec. 4, seeking legal protections for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said the legislation would offer a path to citizenship for eligible “Dreamers” who meet education, work, or military service criteria, calling the Trump administration’s enforcement campaign “cruel.”
Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection reported only 60,940 encounters with illegal immigrants nationwide in October and November—the lowest start to a fiscal year on record. Since Trump took office, monthly apprehensions have averaged below 10,000, with the agency noting that “for the seventh consecutive month, U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into the United States.”
On Dec. 8, DHS launched its “Worst of the Worst” database, a searchable online tool providing public access to information about criminal illegal immigrants arrested under Trump’s directive. McLaughlin said 70 percent of ICE arrests involve individuals charged or convicted of crimes including homicide, assault, and drug trafficking.
“As the media whitewashes the facts, our brave men and women of ICE risk their lives for the American people,” McLaughlin said. “Americans don’t have to rely on the press for this information—with this transparent tool, they can see for themselves what public safety threats were lurking in their neighborhoods.”
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