Nearly 3 Million Undocumented Immigrants Leave U.S. in Past Year

Immigration enforcement efforts lead to record self-deportations and deportations, challenging previous assumptions about the feasibility of reducing illegal immigration.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 3 million undocumented immigrants have left the United States over the past 13 months, with around 2.2 million self-deporting and over 713,000 formally deported through enforcement actions. This data challenges previous claims that mass deportation was impossible, as the current administration's focus on enforcement, border security, and closing legal loopholes has significantly altered migrant behavior and incentives.

Why it matters

The scale of the self-deportations and deportations represents a major shift in immigration trends, with significant implications for labor markets, public services, housing, and crime rates in communities across the country. The data also raises questions about previous assumptions regarding the feasibility and consequences of robust immigration enforcement efforts.

The details

The Department of Homeland Security reports that the current administration's focus on immigration enforcement, including tightening border security, closing legal loopholes, and increasing interior enforcement, has led to a dramatic increase in both self-deportations and formal deportations. Over 700,000 deportations were carried out in just over a year, far exceeding recent historical baselines, with a significant proportion involving individuals with criminal records.

  • Over the past 13 months, from March 2025 to April 2026.
  • In the administration's first 98 days, ICE carried out roughly 72,000 removals, according to a March 2025 report.

The players

Department of Homeland Security

The U.S. federal department responsible for public security, including immigration enforcement and border control.

Kristi Noem

The current Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC)

A research organization that collects and analyzes data on various government activities, including immigration enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The administration's continued focus on immigration enforcement and border security is expected to lead to further reductions in illegal immigration and changes in migration patterns in the coming years.

The takeaway

The data on the significant decline in the undocumented immigrant population challenges long-held assumptions about the feasibility and consequences of robust immigration enforcement, raising important questions about the role of incentives, policy signals, and enforcement credibility in shaping migration flows.