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The government of Estados Unidos reported this Tuesday that over two million immigrants have left the country so far in 2025, either due to deportation or through processes of voluntary self-deportation, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The figure, described by authorities as a "new milestone," includes approximately 400,000 deportations carried out by immigration agents and nearly 1.6 million voluntary departures, according to estimates from DHS itself.
The numbers don't lie: 2 million illegal migrants have left the country in just 250 days, stated Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who attributed the results to the immigration policy of President Donald Trump and the "firm hand" of her Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem.
However, the figure has generated skepticism among analysts and human rights advocates, who warn about the lack of transparency in the methodology used to calculate the supposed processes of self-deportation.
No detailed data has been provided regarding nationalities or exit conditions either.
In parallel, DHS assured that the Border Patrol has not released any migrants in U.S. territory over the last four months, as part of what they call the "border closure" driven by the current administration since January.
A study cited by the DHS and attributed to the United Nations suggests that the new policies have reduced irregular migration by 97% from Central America to the north, although this data has not yet been verified by independent agencies.
Since his return to the presidency in January, Trump has strengthened the immigration control system through new detention facilities, an increased budget for ICE, and the signing of more than 1,000 287(g) collaborative agreements with local law enforcement agencies in 40 states.
Pro-migrant organizations have warned about the human impact of these policies and the potential violation of basic rights in the accelerated deportation processes.
The concept of “self-deportation” has also been questioned, as used by the DHS to include individuals who, in many cases, leave the country due to threats of detention or without access to legal representation.
So far, the DHS has not specified how many Cubans would be included in the released figures, nor has it detailed how many of the migrants departed to third countries as part of the new extraterritorial deportation program.
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