Based on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports and public statements from early 2026, an estimated 2.2 million undocumented immigrants self-deported from the United States between January 2025 and January 2026. This figure is part of a broader administration initiative to encourage voluntary departures, which now includes a $2,600 "exit bonus" for those who leave voluntarily.
Homeland
Security (.gov) +3
Note: Some research groups, such as the Center for Migration Studies, have disputed these high figures, suggesting the actual number of self-deportations may be closer to 200,000.
The
Center for Migration Studies of New York +1
Self-Deportation Data Overview (As of early 2026)
Total Self-Deported (Jan 2025 – Jan 2026): ~2.2 million.
Voluntary Departure App Use: Tens of thousands of individuals have utilized the CBP Home program.
Total Removals + Self-Deportations: When combining formal deportations (over 675,000) and self-deportations, reports indicate over 3 million unauthorized immigrants left the U.S. in the first year of the new administration.
Homeland
Security (.gov) +3
Key Details and Trends
Financial Incentives: The DHS increased the voluntary departure "exit bonus" from $1,000 to $2,600 to encourage more individuals to leave.
Enforcement Pressure: Many individuals are choosing to depart to avoid arrest, detention, and potential bans on re-entry.
Impact on Demographics: The surge in self-deportations has been described as leading to negative net migration in 2025.
Brookings +3
Data
by State
Specific, definitive, and comprehensive data breaking down the 2.2 million self-deportations by individual state is not currently available in public federal reports, as the "self-deported" designation often relies on tracking those who leave without formal, recorded, or forced removal.
However, based on pending deportation cases, the highest impacts of increased immigration enforcement are in states with the largest undocumented populations:
tracreports.org
California
Texas
New
York
Florida
New
Jersey & Virginia (also report high pending cases)
The Center for Migration Studies argues that the DHS claims of 2 million self-deportations are "a self-serving fantasy" and that voluntary departures are often confused with, or used to overstate, the number of people leaving the country voluntarily due to policy, as opposed to simply returning home.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an estimated 2.2 million undocumented immigrants have "self-deported" since January 2025 as of early 2026. However, the government does not typically release a state-by-state breakdown of these figures, as self-deportation is difficult to track precisely; most individuals leave without notifying the government.
Homeland
Security (.gov) +4
Key Statistics and Program Updates
National Totals: DHS reported that by January 20, 2026, nearly 3 million unauthorized immigrants had left the U.S. in total, consisting of roughly 2.2 million self-deportations and over 675,000 formal removals.
Exit Incentives: To encourage departures, the administration increased the "exit bonus" for those using the CBP Home program from $1,000 to $2,600 in January 2026.
Participation: Tens of thousands of individuals have reportedly used the CBP Home app to facilitate their voluntary return.
EL
PAÍS English +5
Data
Controversy
The
accuracy of the 2.2 million self-deportation figure is heavily disputed by
independent researchers:
Center for Migration Studies (CMS): Estimates the true number of self-deportations at approximately 200,000 for the past year—about one-tenth of the official DHS claim.
Brookings Institution: Stated that the DHS data "should not be considered a serious source" for net migration estimates.
Methodology Concerns: Critics argue the administration’s figures are based on flawed analysis of Census Bureau surveys rather than documented departures.
The Center for Migration Studies of New York +4
Target
Population by State
While
state-specific self-deportation data is unavailable, the states with the
largest populations of undocumented immigrants as of early 2026 are:
California: ~1.8
million
Texas: ~1.6
million
Florida: ~1.2
million
New
York: ~650,000
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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