Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced on 8/8 that since President Donald Trump took office and tightened immigration controls, more than 1 million undocumented immigrants have voluntarily left the country. She added that no illegal crossings have occurred in the past three months.

Noem stated that thousands have "self-deported" through the CBP Home app, launched by DHS in March. The Trump administration has also apprehended hundreds of thousands of "illegal immigrant criminals" during this period.

"This is the first time in our nation's history that we have seen this level of security at the border," Noem said at a press conference in Chicago. "Our top priority is protecting the border and apprehending dangerous criminals, deporting murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, and human traffickers."

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visits a prison in El Salvador on 26/3. Photo: Reuters

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visits a prison in El Salvador on 26/3. Photo: Reuters

Trump pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and has significantly increased staffing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency spearheading this effort.

Noem said that Trump has allocated resources for DHS to recruit 10,000 additional ICE officers. "We've only been open for applications for less than a week, and we've already had over 80,000 applicants," she said. DHS has also removed age limits for ICE applicant positions.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller declared that ICE should aim to apprehend a minimum of 3,000 immigrants daily.

This quota pressure has prompted large-scale ICE immigration raids in numerous locations, especially in Democrat-led cities, sparking widespread protests across the country.

According to a CNN poll released on 20/7, 55% of Americans surveyed said the Trump administration has "gone too far" in its efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, a 10% increase from February.

Duc Trung (AFP, AP)