DHS says 2.5M illegal immigrants left U.S.
DHS told Fox News that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. over the past year, including about 605,000 deportations and roughly 1.9 million self-departures since Jan. 20. Officials credited a new CBP 'Home' app and incentive program offering a complimentary flight and $1,000 exit bonus, and said the first 'Project Homecoming' flight carried 64 people who accepted the offer, while noting a recently launched 'Worst of the Worst' dashboard highlighting arrests of criminal offenders.
📌 Key Facts
- DHS figure: >2.5 million departures in the last year, including ~605,000 deportations since Jan. 20
- DHS figure: ~1.9 million self-departures since Jan. 20 via voluntary return
- Programs: CBP 'Home' app enabling free plane ticket and $1,000 bonus; 'Project Homecoming' first flight had 64 participants
- DHS also rolled out a public 'Worst of the Worst' arrests webpage earlier this week
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2023, the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States reached 14 million, representing 4.1% of the total U.S. population.
U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reached a Record 14 Million in 2023 — Pew Research Center
In 2023, 30% of unauthorized immigrants were from Mexico (4.3 million), with significant numbers from Central America including 850,000 from Guatemala and 850,000 from El Salvador, indicating a majority Hispanic composition.
U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reached a Record 14 Million in 2023 — Pew Research Center
Unauthorized immigrants in Texas were arrested at less than half the rate of US-born citizens for violent and drug crimes in 2020.
Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Undocumented immigrants paid close to $90 billion in taxes in 2023, contributing to public services while deportations could reduce U.S. real GDP by up to 7% by 2028 and decrease employment.
How Does Immigration Affect the U.S. Economy? — Council on Foreign Relations
U.S.-born Black prime-age workers maintained a consistent 10% share of the labor market from 1990 to 2022, despite increases in immigrant workers, with no evidence of displacement.
Beyond the “Black Jobs” Controversy: Immigrants and U.S.-Born Black Workers Share a Growing Jobs Pie — Migration Policy Institute