The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that two million illegal immigrants have left the United States since President Donald Trump resumed office.
According to the department, about 1.6 million left voluntarily through self-deportation, while more than 400,000 were deported. DHS projects that deportations will reach 600,000 during Trump’s first year back in the White House.
“The numbers don’t lie: 2 million illegal aliens have been removed or self-deported in just 250 days — proving that President Trump’s policies and Secretary Noem’s leadership are working and making American communities safe,” said Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She added that stronger enforcement is focusing on criminal illegal immigrants, while sending a message to others in the country illegally: “Self-deport or we will arrest and deport you.”
For four consecutive months, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported zero releases of illegal immigrants into the country. DHS also cited a United Nations report showing a 97 percent drop in attempted crossings from Central America, with nearly half of those who gave up citing Trump’s policies as the reason.
The challenges of immigration enforcement were highlighted Monday when two detained illegal immigrants allegedly attacked a female Border Patrol agent in Texas, according to the New York Post. Authorities say Juan Carmen Padron Mendez, 29, put his hands around the agent’s neck while she was stopped at a red light. Both Mendez and his companion, Juan Carlos Padron Barron, 23, were quickly subdued and now face multiple federal charges.
“The Southern District of Texas has zero tolerance for those who assault law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei said. “Let it be known: if you lay a hand on an officer, deputy or federal agent, SDTX will do whatever it can to put you in federal prison for as long as the law will allow. You’ve been warned.”
Meanwhile, DHS continues to clash with certain states over cooperation on detaining criminal illegal immigrants. Last week, the agency pressed California, Illinois, and New York to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. Illinois and New York rejected the request, while California did not respond.
ICE officials criticized sanctuary policies that block cooperation, warning they allow dangerous criminals back into communities. “ICE detainers ask for something very simple: To notify ICE when criminal illegal aliens are released from jail or prison, to ensure that they go into ICE custody before they are released back onto our streets,” McLaughlin said. “These sanctuary state politicians should do the right thing and side with law-abiding Americans over criminal illegal aliens.”