1.5 million illegal migrants appear to self-deport under Trump
Many illegal immigrants in the U.S. appear to have fled the country amid a federal crackdown on unauthorized entrants, new data shows
by Summer Lane | August 22, 2025
In President Donald Trump’s America, law and order have been restored to the southern border, and record numbers of illegal migrants appear to be opting to self-deport rather than face forced deportation.
According to a new study from Pew Research, about 1.5 million illegal migrants have apparently left the country since January 2025, suggesting that these individuals could have self-deported.
“The CPS does not tell us the sources of the decline, but most of the drop is likely due to a fall in the unauthorized immigrant population,” the survey observed.
This comes amid record-breaking safety and security at the southern border under President Trump’s no-nonsense border policies.
In July, there were zero illegal border crossings, per data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, marking the third consecutive month of total operational control.
“CBP shut down illegal crossings again this month, setting enforcement records and collecting billions in tariffs. This is what making America great and safe again looks like,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott.
Monthly total encounters nationwide were also at a historic low for the CBP, clocking in at just over 24,000, with a little over 6,100 Border Patrol apprehensions.
Pew’s data found that the illegal migrant population in America ballooned to a record 14 million in 2023 under the Biden administration. President Donald Trump has been hard at work to reverse this inflow.
According to the White House, there have been over 1,000 deportation flights since Trump took office. Under the president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the administration aims to deport at least one million illegal immigrants every year.
Border Czar Tom Homan has spearheaded federal law enforcement efforts to remove dangerous illegal criminals from U.S. soil. He recently visited “sanctuary cities” of Portland, Oregon, San Diego, California, and Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, to talk to local ICE and CBP agents and let them know “President Trump and I have their six.”
“What is wrong with state and local leaders when they refuse to work with federal law enforcement to remove dangerous people from their streets, and even better, from this country???” Homan wrote on X.
Homan said operations would continue regardless of sanctuary state leaders’ position on the subject, warning that “lawless communities” would be held accountable.
“President Trump promised to American voters that he will make our country safe again, and that is exactly what we are doing…with honor and without apology,” Homan concluded.
Photo: Adobe Stock
