Trump administration touts 'most secure border in history' as 2.5 million migrants exit US

The Department of Homeland Security said Friday that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year, part of a sweeping immigration crackdown officials describe as yielding the most secure border in American history. In a year-end report, DHS highlighted a dramatic shift from the Biden era, noting a 93% year-over-year drop in illegal border crossings and a halving of fentanyl trafficking, along with hundreds of thousands of criminal illegal entrants who were arrested or deported.

Of the 2.5 million who left since Jan. 20, DHS estimated that about 1.9 million self-deported and more than 622,000 were forced out by authorities. The agency has encouraged those living illegally in the United States to return to their home countries using the Customs and Border Protection Home Mobile App, which DHS says can provide a complimentary plane ticket home and a $1,000 exit bonus upon return.

DHS also reported a sharp drop in drug trafficking, with nearly 540,000 pounds of drugs seized this year, about a 10% increase over the same period in 2024, and the U.S. Coast Guard recovering roughly 470,000 pounds of cocaine — enough to kill 177 million people, according to the agency. Taxpayers have saved more than $13 billion at DHS, the department said, noting that several agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Secret Service, have returned to their core missions.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem touted the progress made during Trump’s first year back in office, saying, in a statement, that in less than a year, Trump has delivered some of the most historic and consequential achievements in presidential history. Noem added that, under Trump’s leadership, the administration is “making America safe again and putting the American people first.”

The year-end tally, DHS said, reflects a broad policy push aimed at securing the border, disrupting cartel operations and encouraging those in the United States illegally to seek lawful exit. Officials framed the numbers as evidence that the administration’s approach is reshaping immigration enforcement compared with the prior administration, though independent verification and broader assessments of long-term impact were not provided in the release.

As the enforcement push continues, imagery and reporting from the border has occasionally shifted in focus to enforcement assets and operations, such as mobile applications and rapid removal efforts, alongside broader security measures. The administration has also highlighted the role of other federal agencies in supporting border security and public safety, stressing that the effort involves multiple lines of effort beyond immigration processing alone.

The report arrives as immigration policy remains a central point of political contention, with supporters portraying the crackdown as a necessary step to restore order and opponents warning of human impacts and questions about long-term effectiveness. DHS officials emphasized that the numbers are part of a year-end assessment of achievements and ongoing work to secure the nation, while underscoring that the administration plans to keep pressing forward on enforcement and border-control measures. The communication also reiterates the administration’s focus on targeting criminal activity and reducing illicit flows through a combination of enforcement, technology and outreach to potential migrants about legal pathways.