DHS says 2 million have departed under 'self‑deport' push as exit incentives roll out
DHS says roughly 2 million people have left the U.S. since Jan. 20, 2025 — about 1.6 million by "self‑deportation" and roughly 400,000 formally removed — a figure officials including Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and Secretary Kristi Noem called a "new milestone" and evidence that "the era of open borders is over." The department is promoting incentives and tools to encourage voluntary departures — a $1,000 "exit bonus," free travel assistance, an app to schedule exits and pursue fines forgiveness — even as ICE reports more than 150,000 job applications and DHS references deportation flights and negotiations for new detention capacity.
Politics
Immigration
📰 Sources (2)
The US is paying immigrants to leave. Who is choosing to go?
New information:
- $1,000 'exit bonus' and free travel assistance are being offered to migrants who opt to leave voluntarily.
- DHS is promoting use of a specific app that can schedule departures and forgive certain immigration‑related fines.
- Human‑interest reporting: interviews (anonymized) with migrants who chose voluntary departure, illustrating motivations and outcomes.
- Direct quote from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem used in the administration's ad campaign and referenced in reporting.
Trump admin reports 2 million illegal aliens 'removed or self-deported' from US in first 8 months
New information:
- DHS reports ~2,000,000 people 'removed or self-deported' since Jan. 20, 2025: ~1,600,000 self-deported and ~400,000 removed by enforcement
- DHS names and quotes: Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and references Secretary Kristi Noem; department called it a 'new milestone' and said 'the era of open borders is over'
- Operational context: DHS said ICE has received more than 150,000 job applications and referenced deportation flights and new detention facilities being negotiated