U.S. Report: 2 Million People Left USA?

It is already known that the United States immigration authorities have largely uplifted the security and also the immigration policies. It has become increasingly not used to enter the United States, but also stay there.

As of December 2025, the United States Department of Homeland Security stated that nearly two million undocumented immigrants have voluntarily left the country since January 2025. This trend is being described as a rise in voluntary departures or self deportations, which are different from formal deportations carried out by government authorities.

DHS data shows that about 1.6 million individuals had left the US voluntarily by October 2025, with the number increasing to nearly 1.9 to 2 million by December. Officials say this surge is driven by stricter immigration policies and incentive based exit programs.

One major incentive includes a free plane ticket along with a financial stipend that was recently increased to three thousand dollars for those who choose to leave on their own. Departures are officially recorded through the CBP Home mobile application.

The figures have sparked debate among immigration advocates and analysts. Critics argue that many departures may not be truly voluntary, claiming that policy changes, fear of enforcement, or loss of legal status forced people to leave.

DHS maintains that voluntary departures differ significantly from deportations, as individuals who leave on their own may be eligible to return legally in the future.

In comparison, the US government reports more than 0.6 million formal deportations in 2025. Together, voluntary exits and enforced removals have pushed the total number of undocumented immigrants leaving the country past 2.5 million this year.