Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says the result ‘is just the beginning’ and that the country is determined to ‘restore order and security to America’s borders’
The president’s government’s immigration policies are causing a sharp drop in the number of illegal immigrants within the . According to data released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 515,000 people in an irregular situation have already been deported since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. The official forecast is that the total will reach around 600,000 deportations by the end of the year, which would represent one of the highest numbers in the country’s recent history.
In an interview with Fox News DigitalDHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that the result “is just the beginning” and that the government is determined to “restore order and security to American borders”. “We are enforcing the law and fulfilling our duty to protect the American people. This is just the beginning of a new phase of immigration accountability,” said McLaughlin.
According to the DHS report, since January:
• More than 515 thousand people were officially deported by the USA;
• More than 2 million immigrants would have left the country, including deportations and voluntary departures;
• The ICE agency (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has already registered almost 200 thousand deportations until August 2025 alone;
• The current pace puts the government on track to surpass historical records for annual removals;
Authorities say the goal is to “reestablish full enforcement of immigration laws” after years of policies considered more lenient. The focus, according to DHS, is to prioritize convicted criminals, repeat offenders and people who have recently crossed the border.
The current strategy is part of a broader plan to tighten the border, initiated in the first days of the new mandate. Trump ordered the reinforcement of patrols on the border with Mexico, the reactivation of detention centers and the acceleration of deportation processes.
In addition, the United States has been signing agreements with Central American countries, such as Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, to receive asylum seekers while their cases are analyzed. The measure aims to reduce pressure on the American system and discourage new irregular crossings.
The policy of mass deportations has generated support among conservative sectors, who see the numbers as a sign of resumption of migration control. On the other hand, human rights organizations and legal experts warn of possible risks of violations and question the capacity of partner countries to guarantee adequate protection for deportees. Still, the Trump administration maintains that it is acting within the law and that the objective is to “protect American citizens and restore national security.”
At the current pace, DHS estimates that the US will surpass the 600,000 deportation mark by December 2025, consolidating the highest number of removals in more than a decade. The administration must also expand internal operations, with new prisons in cities and states that resist cooperation with the federal government.
The White House classifies the result as “a historic milestone” in North American migration policy — and states that new measures will be announced by the end of the year to reinforce border surveillance.
