Trump Administration Reports Record Voluntary Departures as Enforcement Strategy Unfolds

Nearly 2 million illegal aliens have self-deported under the second Trump administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The striking figure—1.9 million voluntary departures between January and mid-December—was announced by DHS in a year-end release on the department’s accomplishments in 2025.

The administration argued that this strategy of pressuring illegal aliens to leave on their own is producing results, even as critics denounced the messaging as harsh. A White House spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson, stated: “President Trump is delivering on his promise to make America safe again and deport criminal illegal aliens,” calling the crackdown “the largest mass deportation operation of criminal illegal aliens in history.”

DHS reported that an additional 600,000 illegal aliens with criminal histories have been deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Analysts noted that ICE’s roughly 6,500 deportation officers lack the manpower to arrest and remove millions quickly—making voluntary departures a key pressure release valve for a system overloaded during previous administrations.

Former immigration judge Andrew Arthur emphasized that consistent enforcement sends a clear message: “When the government enforces the law consistently, many people get the message and leave on their own.”

Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks rejected criticisms that the campaign aims to frighten communities, stating the intent is to send a warning: “Do not come.” DHS expanded voluntary departure incentives by tripling the “exit bonus” from $1,000 to $3,000 for undocumented migrants who register through the rebranded CBP Home app and leave by Dec. 31.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that migrants refusing the program will be “found,” “arrested,” and “never [allowed to] return” to the U.S. DHS claims the initiative saves taxpayers money, citing ICE estimates that the average cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting a migrant is about $17,000—far higher than airfare and stipends.

Some immigration analysts questioned whether DHS’ 1.9 million total may be inflated.

Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax with nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics, reported on this story.

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