Noem’s DHS Oversees Historic Drop in Illegal ImmigrationNoem’s DHS Oversees Historic Drop in Illegal Immigration
Kristi Noem (C), secretary of Homeland Security, speaks as Attorney General Pam Bondi (L) and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry look on, at a press conference at Angola Prison near St. Francisville, La., on Sept. 3, 2025. Matthew Hinton/AFP via Getty Images

Noem’s DHS Oversees Historic Drop in Illegal Immigration

DHS data show daily apprehensions down 96 percent since January; zero illegal immigrants released into U.S. in past four months.
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Zero illegal immigrants have been released into the United States in the last four consecutive months, according to data released by the Department Homeland Security (DHS) on Sept. 22. At the same time, a record number of illegal immigrants have exited the United States.

“American people are safer, the border is sealed, and President Donald Trump and [DHS] Secretary Kristi Noem are making America secure again in record time,” DHS stated.

DHS data show that daily encounters with people crossing into the country unlawfully dropped by 93 percent, while daily apprehensions dropped by 96 percent since January.

The flow of migrants making their way to the United States from Central America has also reduced by 97 percent, according to the agency, which oversees Border Patrol.

“We have the most secure border in our nation’s history,” Noem said during a press conference last month at the border wall in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. “We had 1.6 million illegal aliens that have gone home voluntarily.”

Since January, the department said it has taken 422,000 illegal immigrants into custody. And 70 percent of those arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have criminal charges pending or criminal convictions.

During his trip to the United Kingdom last week, President Donald Trump touted U.S. border security efforts, saying during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that America and the UK faced similar challenges with mass migration.

“It destroys countries from within, and we’re actually now removing people that came into our country,” Trump said.

“From millions of people a year ago, we had zero people entering our country illegally,” he said. “We’re actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country illegally.

Trump made mass deportations a key part of his campaign to win a second term, as almost 11 million illegal immigrants entered the country from fiscal year 2021 to 2024 under the Biden administration.

On day one of his administration, Trump signed 10 border-related executive actions, setting the stage for deportation operations and focusing on illegal immigration, crime, and stopping fentanyl trafficking.

Opponents of Trump’s immigration policy say the administration is not following due process before removing illegal immigrants, a claim the administration denies.

Since January, the overall foreign-born population in the United States has fallen by 2.2 million and 2.5 million American-born workers have entered the workforce, according to DHS.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data show that border authorities had 3,066 terrorism-related encounters at land ports of entry in fiscal year 2025 through August, including airports.

“Noncitizens who match to a terrorism-related record that are encountered by the CBP Office of Field Operations at land ports of entry are most commonly found inadmissible to our country and immediately repatriated or removed,” CPB states.

During the same period, Border Patrol agents arrested 61 people on a terrorism watchlist who crossed the southern border illegally.

The department has increased its manpower through its 287(g) agreements between ICE and state and local law enforcement.

The agreements give state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specific immigration functions, with ICE oversight and funding. The additional authority includes jail enforcement and executing and serving warrants on illegal immigrants.

ICE agents have been doxxed and increasingly targeted by violent demonstrators, particularly in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A DHS release this month concerning an ICE agent shooting an illegal immigrant who hit him with his vehicle in Chicago said assaults against ICE agents have increased 1,000 percent.

During Noem’s first seven months, DHS reported saving taxpayers $13.2 billion by reducing grant contracts and cutting 8 percent of non-law enforcement personnel.