Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly announced on Thursday that more than 1.6 million illegal immigrants have voluntarily left the United States in the past 200 days, framing the exodus as a vindication of President Donald J. Trump’s strict approach to border security and immigration enforcement.
“In less than 200 days, 1.6 MILLION illegal immigrants have left the United States population. This is massive,” Ms. Noem wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
She added that the departures would bring “safer streets, taxpayer savings, pressure off of schools and hospital services and better job opportunities for Americans.”
The secretary elaborated on the figures during an appearance on Fox News, portraying them as tangible evidence that Mr. Trump’s policies were achieving their intended effect. “We have 1.6 [million] illegal immigrants that have left this country voluntarily,” she said. “And I think these numbers just show exactly the genius of Donald J. Trump, the brilliant mind that he has, that when he was elected in November, he knew he had to make America safe again.”
Ms. Noem emphasized that the president had anticipated the strategy long before taking office. “He said, ‘Kristi, if you’re going to be my Homeland Security Secretary, we’re going to follow the law, you’re going to do commercials, you’re going to tell the world that no longer will we tolerate people being in our country illegally, and that they need to go home,’” she recounted.
According to Ms. Noem, the results reflect both careful planning and a straightforward message to potential migrants: continued unauthorized entry carries consequences. “Overwhelmingly, the world got the message. They’re leaving on their own, which is the best thing for American citizens,” she said.
The voluntary departures come amid heightened public concern over illegal immigration and its impact on communities, infrastructure, and public services.
Ms. Noem framed the self-deportation numbers as a direct benefit to American taxpayers and local governments. By reducing the population of unauthorized residents, she argued, the administration was alleviating pressure on schools, hospitals, and public safety resources.
While critics have often questioned whether strict enforcement and publicity campaigns are effective, Ms. Noem pointed to the scale of the exodus as a sign that Trump’s messaging and policy measures were deterring illegal entry without requiring large-scale arrests or forced removals.
The secretary’s announcement also underscores a broader conservative argument that firm enforcement of immigration law protects citizens’ economic and personal security.
By emphasizing voluntary departures rather than deportations, Ms. Noem framed the policy as both humane and practical, suggesting that clear legal boundaries and consequences encourage compliance without resorting to coercion.
For the Trump administration, the numbers offer a narrative of success in one of its most politically resonant initiatives.
With more than 1.6 million illegal immigrants reportedly leaving the country in just over half a year, officials argue that the approach is not only reducing pressure on public services but also reinforcing the administration’s broader commitment to making America “safe again.”
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