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Nearly 2 million migrants voluntarily left the United States in 2025 under programs expanded by the Trump administration, according to a year-end summary released by the Department of Homeland Security.
The agency reported 1.9 million voluntary departures between January and mid-December, calling the figure evidence of the administration’s effort to restore border enforcement after what officials described as years of disorder.
The White House said the policy, which encourages undocumented immigrants to leave on their own, is both cost-effective and humane.
“President Trump is delivering on his promise to make America safe again and deport criminal illegal aliens,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Washington Examiner, calling the initiative the “largest mass deportation operation of criminal illegal aliens in history.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported an additional 600,000 people, most with criminal convictions, the report said. Combined, the total marks one of the largest enforcement actions of any administration in recent decades.
Analysts told the Examiner that ICE’s limited workforce of about 6,500 deportation officers makes voluntary departures a practical tool for managing an overstressed system. Officials have promoted that message widely through social media posts and publicized arrests highlighting criminal cases.
Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks dismissed criticism that the campaign aims to instill fear. “Do not come,” he said, describing the effort as a clear warning to would-be illegal migrants.
CBS News reported that DHS recently tripled its “exit bonus” to $3,000 for those who voluntarily depart through the CBP Home app before Dec. 31. Participants can also receive free airfare and have certain civil fines waived.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS that migrants who refuse the program will be “found,” “arrested,” and “never [allowed to] return” to the U.S.
The department said the voluntary departures program saves taxpayers money. ICE estimates the average cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting a migrant is about $17,000, compared with far lower expenses for airfare and stipends. DHS officials said “tens of thousands” have used the CBP Home app to arrange their departures, but declined to release details on how many received government assistance versus leaving independently.