EXPERTS SAY THE FIGURE REQUIRES OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION BEFORE IT CAN BE CONFIRMED
The Department of Homeland Security claims 2.5 million undocumented migrants have left the U.S. since Trump took office, but independent verification is still pending.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated Tuesday that approximately 2.5 million undocumented migrants have departed the United States since President Donald Trump assumed office. The claim, which drew immediate national attention, has not yet been backed by official public data releases or independent federal reporting.
According to DHS officials, the figure reflects a combination of “voluntary departures,” removals, and what they describe as “self-deportation trends.” However, the agency has not provided a breakdown of categories, timeframes, or methodology used to calculate the total.
Immigration researchers and policy analysts cautioned that no federal database currently shows a consolidated count approaching 2.5 million, noting that departures are notoriously difficult to track. Independent analysts stressed that DHS will need to release detailed data before the claim can be evaluated.
The White House framed the DHS statement as evidence that Trump’s immigration agenda is producing results, while critics argue the administration has not supplied enough documentation to support the numbers. Several immigration experts noted that migration figures often fluctuate based on economic conditions, enforcement posture, and asylum patterns.
Civil-rights organizations urged the public to treat the number as an unverified claim until DHS provides transparent, disaggregated data. They also warned that large, unsubstantiated figures can distort public understanding of immigration trends.
DHS says it will release additional information “in the coming weeks,” though no timeline has been confirmed.
