A CBS News report highlights a record number of immigration detainees voluntarily leaving the United States, with the figure reaching 28% under President Trump's second term. This marks an increase from previous years, including 21% during his first term. The trend is attributed to stricter enforcement measures.
CBS News has published a report detailing a significant rise in self-deportations among detained illegal immigrants. According to the report, a record number of detainees are giving up their cases and voluntarily leaving the country, with the percentage of detained cases ending in voluntary removal climbing to 28% following Donald Trump's reelection in 2024.
Historical data shows the rate was around 6-7% in 1985, rising to 19% by the end of the Reagan era. After the Reagan amnesty, it dropped to 3-2% in the 1990s and hovered low thereafter. During Trump's first term, it reached 21%, before declining again. Last year, the Trump administration formally removed approximately 525,000 illegal aliens, a figure higher than those under Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. The report notes that Obama's numbers included individuals turned away at the border, which inflated deportation totals.
The CBS report states: “A record number of detainees are giving up their cases and voluntarily leaving the country… That figure only appears to be climbing.” This trend in self-deportations, separate from formal removals, has been corroborated by labor statistics and think tank reports. An estimated 20 million illegal immigrants remain in the country.
The increase coincides with heightened visibility of enforcement actions, including social media videos from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement showing arrests. Critics on the right have questioned whether such displays are substantive or merely performative, but the report suggests they contribute to the rise in voluntary departures.
In a related development, ICE arrested several individuals with criminal convictions on a recent Thursday, including Jose Lopez-Arevalo from El Salvador, who had six convictions in California such as assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated: “There is absolutely no reason these violent criminals should remain in this country.” Other arrests included individuals convicted of child sex crimes and drug trafficking. These actions occur amid debates over DHS funding, set to expire without a congressional deal, with Democrats proposing changes to arrest warrants and agent attire.
