The U.S. has removed thousands of undocumented immigrants annually since the 1800s, per Department of Homeland Security records. Before President Trump’s second term, the highest yearly removal totals were recorded during the Obama administration, the Daily Signal noted in a Monday report.
During President Barack Obama’s two terms, roughly 3 million undocumented immigrants were removed from the U.S., peaking in fiscal year 2013 with 432,334 deportations—an average of over 36,000 per month.
From January 20 to June 30 of this year, more than 239,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported under President Trump, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Daily Signal. That equates to an average of about 47,000 removals per month, surpassing Obama’s record pace.
“Removals” constitute the “compulsory and confirmed movement of an inadmissible or deportable noncitizen out of the United States based on an order of removal,” according to the DHS.
According to DHS, under the leadership of Border Czar Tom Homan and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Trump administration has apprehended over 273,000 undocumented immigrants. However, a series of lawsuits and court rulings has impeded the pace of their removals.
“In the face of historic opposition from activist, liberal judges, President Trump is committed to carrying out the largest mass deportation operation in history to remove the millions of unvetted, illegal, criminal aliens that Joe Biden welcomed into our country,” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, told The Daily Signal.
The recently passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” will turbocharge the president’s deportation efforts by funding more ICE agents, expanded detention facilities, and more,” Jackson said, adding that illegal immigrants “should self-deport while they still have the opportunity.”
DHS is incentivizing voluntary departures by offering undocumented immigrants $1,000 and a potential legal pathway back to the U.S. While the administration continues to litigate its authority to deport, it’s also expanding detention capacity.
On July 1, President Trump toured a new Everglades facility—dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”—built in eight days and capable of holding up to 3,000 detainees. A recent Napolitan News Service poll shows 57% of voters back these deportation efforts, while 39% oppose them.
