Since President Donald Trump took office, approximately two million undocumented immigrants have departed from the United States, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This total comprises around 1.6 million individuals who opted to self-deport, alongside over 400,000 who were forcibly removed, according to a statement from the DHS.
Furthermore, the DHS projects a total of 600,000 deportations during Trump’s first year back in office, demonstrating a concerted effort to enforce immigration laws.
“The facts are irrefutable: two million undocumented immigrants have been removed or have voluntarily left in just over 250 days—this underscores the effectiveness of President Trump’s policies and Secretary Noem’s guidance in securing American communities,” asserted Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
McLaughlin emphasized that ongoing immigration enforcement initiatives are focusing on the most severe offenders, effectively taking more criminal elements off the streets. “We are delivering a clear ultimatum to those residing here illegally: either self-deport or face arrest and deportation,” she added.
In a noteworthy shift, the statement highlighted that for four consecutive months, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not admitted any undocumented immigrants into the country.
A United Nations report was also cited in the release, indicating a staggering 97 percent decrease in illegal migration to the U.S. from Central America, with nearly half of those who abandoned their attempts attributing their decision to Trump’s immigration policies.
The challenges of maintaining this deportation agenda were starkly illustrated Monday when two undocumented immigrants attempted to escape after one allegedly assaulted a female Border Patrol agent. As reported by the New York Post, Juan Carmen Padron Mendez, 29, and Juan Carlos Padron Barron, 23, were in custody when Mendez allegedly tried to choke the agent during a traffic stop.
Both individuals were subsequently arrested and now face charges including assault, resisting arrest, and impeding a federal officer.
“The Southern District of Texas has an unwavering zero-tolerance policy for those who assault law enforcement,” remarked U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei. “Make no mistake: anyone who lays a hand on an officer will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law,” he warned.
Political headwinds have complicated deportation efforts, particularly in states like California, Illinois, and New York. Recent communications from the DHS urged these states to take action against criminal undocumented immigrants, yet both Illinois and New York dismissed the proposal, while California remained unresponsive.
Illinois’s disregard for even a follow-up letter from the DHS was noted, with the department expressing their commitment to taking “all appropriate measures to address the reckless obstruction of apprehending and removing criminal undocumented immigrants.”
“These dangerous sanctuary policies, paired with soft-on-crime bail reforms, allow criminal undocumented immigrants to be released back into our communities, endangering public safety,” McLaughlin warned. “ICE detainers simply request notification when these offenders are released from custody, to ensure they’re taken into ICE custody rather than returned to our streets. Politicians in sanctuary states need to prioritize law-abiding citizens over those who break the law,” she concluded.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
