DHS says 3 million immigrants have left the US under the Trump administration

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) touted “historic progress” under President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem, highlighting the nearly 3 million immigrants who have left the United States and what officials call “the most secure border in American history.”

The statement, issued as Trump delivered his first State of the Union address since returning to office, outlined the administration’s policies for producing lower-level border crossings, expanding immigration rules and saving taxpayers billions, while criticizing Congressional Democrats for blocking DHS funding.

“Over the past 13 months, nearly 3 million aliens have left the US as a result of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million deportations and 713,000 deportations,” Noem said in a statement.

Noem added that the number of deportations under the Trump administration was “less than one month” under the Biden administration, and DHS has saved taxpayers more than $13.2 billion.

“Countless lives have been saved, communities have been strengthened, and Americans have been put back first,” Noem said.

DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and removed more than 1,500 known or suspected terrorists in the past year.

A nationwide immigration operation has resulted in the arrest of nearly 8,000 gang-related people, including members associated with Tren de Aragua and MS-13, the department said. DHS added that it has launched a new webpage, “Worst of the Worst,” tracking illegal immigrants arrested during law enforcement operations under the administration.

NOEM CELEBRATES TSA’S SUCCESS AFTER THOUSANDS OF SECURITY CONNECTORS BARRED FROM CARS AT AMERICA’S BIGGEST AIRPORTS

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said nearly 3 million illegal immigrants have left the US in the past 13 months under the Trump administration. (Luke Johnson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The department also reported an increase in drug seizures by Customs and Border Protection compared to a 12-month period, including 617,648 kilograms of illegal drugs across the country last year – an 8% increase on the previous year.

The Coast Guard has separately seized 550,000 pounds of illegal drugs worth more than $3.9 billion in drug busts and prevented more than 206 million lethal doses from reaching US communities, DHS said.

DHS said it and the Department of Health and Human Services have found 145,000 unaccompanied minors who went missing under the Biden administration.

“Too many of these children were exploited and abused before, during, and after being trafficked across our borders,” DHS said.

TRUMP’S OPERATION METRO SURGE SERVED 3,000 MINNEAPOLIS CHILDREN, EMMER SAYS

DHS says border crossings have reached record lows under President Trump’s second term. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The department echoed Trump’s remarks during his speech, accusing Democrats of partially shutting down the government after Senate Democrats again blocked Republican efforts to fund the department before the first speech.

“Despite our historic successes, Democrat politicians on Capitol Hill have shut down DHS, depriving many of our brave men and women who protect our nation’s security of their paychecks—putting their lives and their families at risk,” DHS said.

During his remarks, Trump criticized the Democrats for failing to reach a funding agreement.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

“As we speak, the Democrats in this room have cut off all the money for the Department of Homeland Security. Everything is cut, everything is cut. They created another Democrat shutdown, the first one cost us two points in GDP, two points we lost in GDP, which probably made them really happy,” said Trump during his speech. “They shut down the organization responsible for protecting the American people from terrorists and murderers.”

Trump said he “wants” full and immediate defunding of the department and border security efforts.

Related Article