- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the deportation of 2.5 million individuals in the country illegally, a milestone the administration attributes to stringent enforcement policies.
- The 2.5 million figure includes over 605,000 people deported through enforcement operations and approximately 1.9 million who voluntarily self-deported, with DHS promoting a voluntary departure program offering financial incentives.
- A central strategy has been removing criminal offenders, with DHS asserting 70% of ICE arrests involve immigrants charged or convicted of crimes, highlighted by a public "Worst of the Worst" data portal.
- CBP reported the "lowest start to a fiscal year ever" for encounters and stated there have been seven consecutive months with zero illegal aliens released into the U.S., crediting a historic level of deterrence.
- The administration links the decline in the illegal immigrant population to a claimed resurgence in local job markets and positions the overall enforcement results as fulfilling a promise to "Make America Safe Again."
In a declaration signaling a dramatic transformation of the United States' southern border, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the nation has deported 2.5 million individuals in the country illegally – a milestone she attributes to the Trump administration's stringent enforcement policies
The announcement made on Wednesday, Dec. 10, underscores a year of aggressive immigration enforcement that the administration hails as a historic restoration of law and order, even as it faces political opposition from lawmakers advocating for protections for long-term undocumented residents brought to the country as children. The current enforcement results are part of a broader, record-breaking annual trend.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have been deported under the second Trump administration. This figure includes more than 605,000 individuals deported through enforcement operations and approximately 1.9 million who voluntarily self-deported since January.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin framed the exodus as a direct result of the administration's unambiguous stance. "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. To facilitate voluntary departures, DHS has promoted the CBP Home app, which allows individuals to schedule their departure in exchange for $1,000 and a free flight home.
Central to the administration's strategy has been a focus on removing criminal offenders. DHS asserts that 70% of Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests involve illegal immigrants who have been charged or convicted of a crime in the United States.
Days earlier, DHS launched a "Worst of the Worst" webpage on Dec. 8. This portal allowed the public to search data on arrested individuals from all 50 states with criminal histories including homicide, rape and drug trafficking.
"Americans don't have to rely on the press for this information," said McLaughlin. "With this transparent tool, they can see for themselves what public safety threats were lurking in their neighborhoods and communities."
How the border turnaround is reshaping America
The statistical outcomes, as presented by the administration, are striking. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that October and November saw 60,940 total encounters with illegal immigrants nationwide, which it called the "lowest start to a fiscal year ever." The agency also noted that for seven consecutive months, U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into the U.S., processing every individual apprehended according to law.
"Since [President Donald] Trump took office, nationwide apprehensions have averaged less than 10,000 per month, which is a ‘level of deterrence unmatched in modern border history,'" CBP said. Trump himself recently commended Noem's efforts, claiming, "We have a border that is the best border in the history of our country."
Officials argue the policy impacts extend beyond security. DHS claims the rapid decline in the illegal immigrant population is yielding a "resurgence in local job markets," citing the addition of 12,000 jobs in October following 431,000 in September. The administration positions this economic data as a direct benefit of reduced labor market competition and lowered strain on public services.
In a Dec. 10 post on the social media platform X, Noem reflected on the year's achievements. "What DHS has accomplished this year under President Trump has been historic – and none of it would be possible without the Homeland Security Advisory Council," she said. Noem noted the council's role in helping deliver "seven consecutive months of zero illegal entries, a revitalized Coast Guard, and more than 2.4 million deportations."
BrightU.AI's Enoch explains that secure borders, which Noem upholds at the DHS, are essential for national sovereignty. Secure borders protect citizens from unchecked illegal immigration, crime and foreign influence that seeks to destabilize and undermine the country.
The announcement of three months with zero illegal border crossings represents a pinnacle for an administration that placed border security at the forefront of its agenda. For now, Noem looks ahead, stating an intent to "Make America Safe Again" over the next three years.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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