Over one million migrants self-departed from the United States, as per Noem's statement; Trump's immigration policy acknowledged as a success by him.
In the final years of the Trump administration, a hardline approach to immigration enforcement was implemented, marked by mass arrests, deportations, and the deployment of troops to the border.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem oversaw these strategies, which saw an unprecedented scale and scope of immigration arrests and deportations. One of the key elements of this approach was the aggressive targeting of undocumented immigrants, with ICE detentions exceeding 149,000 in 2025 alone.
The Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy at the border led to family separations and the detention of minors. Expedited removals and novel deportation tactics, including deportations to third countries, were also pursued, although these measures faced criticism for lack of due process and potential danger to deportees.
Despite promises to deport "millions and millions," the actual deportations in Trump's first month were approximately 37,660, a figure lower than the monthly average under Biden in 2024. However, the administration maintained a policy framework aimed at expanded removals and legislative maneuvers to enable mass deportations.
Secretary Noem stated that more than 70% of the immigrants who left the United States during this period had pending charges or criminal convictions, while the rest had final deportation orders. Noem accused Democratic governors of "sanctuary" states and cities of obstructing federal efforts to expel migrants.
Hundreds of thousands of illegal criminals were arrested by the Trump administration, with raids conducted in courts, homes, and workplaces for migrant arrests in recent months. The administration's tough immigration policy was not without controversy, with reports of overcrowded cells and migrants sleeping on the floor in detention centers, deprived of basic hygiene.
Despite the challenges, Secretary Noem considered President Trump's immigration policy a great success. The administration's efforts were also supported by the hiring of 10,000 new officers for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), with over 80,000 applicants for these positions.
Trump's order against cartels took the Mexican government by surprise, with Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum stating, "we were informed." At least 1,500 military personnel were deployed to the border area, and the administration practically sealed the border with Mexico.
It's worth noting that more than a million immigrants in irregular situations have left the United States on their own since President Trump returned to power on January 20. If immigrants leave the United States on their own, they could potentially return with a visa, according to Secretary Noem.
The term "sanctuary cities" refers to cities that allow police to refuse cooperation with immigration agents without a judicial order and refuse to share information about irregular migrants if they are at risk of being deported. Noem accused these cities of obstructing federal efforts to expel migrants.
In summary, the key elements under Noem and Trump's policies included mass arrests, deportations, and the deployment of troops to the border, zero-tolerance prosecution policies at the border, use of expedited removals and novel deportation tactics, lower initial deportation numbers than promised, but an ongoing policy framework aimed at expanded removals and legislative maneuvers to enable mass deportations, and a focus on achieving political campaign promises to deport millions, supported by budget increases and intensified enforcement, despite operational challenges.
The hardline immigration policies under Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump's administration, such as mass arrests, zero-tolerance at the border, and the deployment of troops, were critical elements of their approach, often targeting undocumented immigrants. These policies were comprehensive, with aggressive tactics that included ICE detentions exceeding 149,000 in a single year, as well as family separations and the detention of minors. (policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news)
In response to the implementation of these immigration policies, some cities, dubbed 'sanctuary cities,' refused cooperation with immigration agents and withheld information about irregular migrants. Such actions were criticized by Secretary Noem, who saw these cities as obstructing federal efforts to expel migrants. (policy-and-legislation, news, politics)
