Background on Key Figures and Relevant Context
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday that over two million undocumented immigrants have left the United States, either forcibly or voluntarily, since Donald Trump took office at the end of January.
Joe Biden, a Democrat, served as the previous president. His administration had launched an application to welcome asylum seekers in the country, which was later transformed by DHS into an “self-deportation” app under Trump’s presidency. This app allowed undocumented immigrants to inform the government of their willingness to leave the country.
DHS Report and Methodology
According to the DHS, “More than two million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. in less than 250 days, including approximately 1.6 million who have self-deported voluntarily and over 400,000 deportations.” The statement does not clarify how these voluntary departures were counted.
Debate Among Experts
The number of undocumented immigrants entering the U.S. during Biden’s four-year presidency is a topic of debate among experts. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office reportedly did not release any undocumented immigrants inside the country for four consecutive months.
ICE Operations and Response
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced plans to nearly double its workforce after receiving more than 150,000 job applications.
As a result, ICE has been conducting raids across the country. These actions have sparked protests from migrant advocacy groups and Democratic governors.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who is responsible for the reported departures?
A: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that over two million undocumented immigrants left the U.S. since Trump’s presidency, either forcibly or voluntarily.
- Q: How were the departures counted?
A: The DHS statement does not provide specifics on how voluntary departures were counted.
- Q: What is the debate among experts regarding undocumented immigrants entering the U.S.?
A: Experts disagree on the number of undocumented immigrants entering the U.S. during Biden’s presidency, with CBP reporting no releases of undocumented immigrants inside the country for four consecutive months.
- Q: What actions is ICE taking, and how are people responding?
A: ICE plans to nearly double its workforce and has been conducting raids across the country. These actions have led to protests from migrant advocacy groups and Democratic governors.
