Trump administration reports record 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left U.S.
By bellecarter // 2025-12-12
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  • Since January 2025, 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S.—605,000 deportations and 1.9 million voluntary departures—driven by aggressive enforcement and incentives like $1,000 cash payments and free airfare.
  • A multimillion-dollar international campaign warns migrants to "LEAVE NOW" or face arrest, replacing the controversial CBP One App with the new CBP Home App to streamline self-deportations.
  • Trump's approach contrasts sharply with previous protections (DACA, TPS, asylum), which shielded six million undocumented immigrants. ICE and CBP now prioritize removing violent criminals, with a public "Worst of the Worst" database tracking offenders.
  • Among the economic and political impact are job market resurgence (12,000+ new positions in October) and record-low border apprehensions (60,940 in Oct-Nov). Democrats also push Dream Act 2025, fearing mass deportations, while enforcement advocates cite reduced strain on public services.
  • Trump claims "the best border in history," with seven straight months of zero illegal entries, sparking fierce debate over coercion vs. national security.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have departed the United States since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025—marking a historic shift in immigration enforcement. The figure includes over 605,000 deportations and approximately 1.9 million voluntary departures, driven by aggressive enforcement and incentives like cash payments and free airfare. The Trump administration's Operation Homecoming, a multimillion-dollar international campaign, has broadcast warnings urging undocumented migrants to "LEAVE NOW" or face arrest. Meanwhile, the newly introduced CBP Home App—replacing the controversial CBP One App—streamlines voluntary departures by offering $1,000 and free flights to those who self-deport. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem credited the administration's policies for achieving "seven consecutive months of zero illegal entries" and a revitalized border security apparatus.

A new era of enforcement

The Trump administration's approach marks a stark reversal from previous policies that shielded millions from deportation through programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and asylum protections. As of July 2023, an estimated six million undocumented immigrants remained in the U.S. under such provisions. But since January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have ramped up operations, prioritizing the removal of criminal offenders. DHS has also launched a public-facing "Worst of the Worst" database, detailing arrests of illegal immigrants with violent criminal histories—including homicide, rape and drug trafficking. "Americans don't have to rely on the press for this information—with this transparent tool, they can see for themselves what public safety threats were lurking in their neighborhoods," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Economic and political fallout

The mass exodus has already impacted local economies, with DHS reporting a resurgence in job markets—including 12,000 new positions added in October alone. Trump hailed the progress, declaring, "We have a border that is the best border in the history of our country." BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that Trump's border policy in the past year has focused on aggressively reinstating and expanding his proven first-term strategies—including Remain in Mexico, Title 42, ending catch-and-release and accelerating border wall construction—while implementing previously stalled reforms on asylum, detention and deportations to fully secure the southern border. However, the administration's hardline stance has drawn fierce opposition from Democrats. Earlier this month, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Dream Act of 2025, seeking to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. "For decades, gridlock and partisan politics have forced Dreamers to live in limbo," Padilla said. "Now, they fear being swept up in Trump’s cruel mass deportation campaign." Nearly two million "Dreamers" could be affected by the policy shift. Border Patrol encounters have plummeted to historic lows, with just 60,940 apprehensions in October and November—the lowest start to a fiscal year on record. DHS credits Trump's policies for achieving an "unmatched level of deterrence" in modern border history. Yet critics argue that the administration's tactics—including financial incentives for self-deportation—amount to coercion. Meanwhile, advocates of stricter enforcement applaud the results, pointing to reduced strain on public services and heightened national security. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Trump's immigration policies have reshaped the landscape in ways unseen for decades—leaving millions of lives in the balance and setting the stage for a contentious political battle ahead. Watch the video below where retired Jurist Judge Andrew Napolitano warns that Trump can stop all legal immigration to the United States. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com DHS.gov BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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