DHS Claims 1.6M Self-Deportations; ICE Data Shows 150,000 Removals In First 6 Months

The piece probes a major gap between DHS messaging on mass self-deportations and ICE’s formal removal data. While DHS Secretary Kristi Noem touts 1.0–1.6 million people leaving in under 200 days via self-deportation initiatives (including the CBP Home App and incentives), ICE records show roughly 150,000 formal removals in the administration’s first six months. The article assesses feasibility of Trump’s 1 million deportation pledge, explains differences in how departures are counted, and underscores the lack of transparent, verifiable reporting on self-deportation tallies. It frames national enforcement goals against operational capacity and data clarity.