More Than 1 Million Illegal Immigrants Have Self-Deported, Says Senior White House Official

Miller said there are ramifications for those who have chosen not to self-deport.

A poster with a self-deport warning message is seen on a wall outside of a courtroom at New York-Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York City on June 11, 2025. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

More than 1 million illegal immigrants have self-deported since President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, according to White House Homeland Security Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.

Miller cited labor force data being behind the statistic.

“Looking at labor force data, we believe there’s already been a million self-deportations,” he said on Fox News on July 16.

Miller said there are ramifications for those who choose not to self-deport.

“So we are well on our way, if we stay the course ... and if illegal aliens understand the consequences of staying versus the opportunities of leaving, we’re going to see millions and millions more self-deportations because if you stay, here’s the consequences: you face sudden arrest, sudden deportation, you face the potential garnishment of all of your income, all of your wages, the loss of your property, incarceration and imprisonment for immigration and other crimes,” he said.

Miller said those who choose to go back to their home country will have the opportunity to come back to the United States legally.

“If you choose to self-deport, you can go back home, do have the opportunity to apply for legal entry if you wish to do so in the future, and you’re going to get a $1,000 check on your way out,” he said.

“So it’s a very clear choice. And we’re seeing over a million illegal aliens clearly choosing just to go back to their countries.”

The Department of Homeland Security announced in June a $1,000 stipend for illegal immigrants who self-deport. Additionally, they will have their fines forgiven.

“If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement at the time. “If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return. If you are in this country illegally, self-deport NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal, right way.”

Miller said that where America gets its immigrants from matters, as it is not prudent to bring people from failing countries like Haiti and Somalia.

“Who lives in your country determines what your country is,” he said.

“It’s not about how you feel about an individual immigrant. It’s about the policy on a systemic scale.

“If you move the Third World to the First World, eventually we become the Third World. And that’s not good for us. It’s not good for anybody who wants to live here in the future.”