An increasing number of illegal immigrants are choosing to leave the United States voluntarily rather than risk being forcibly deported just a few months into Donald Trump’s second term. According to a report by The Los Angeles Times, many are now considering self-deportation to avoid detention and formal removal proceedings. Some have already taken that step.
“Three months in, it’s difficult to estimate how many people are making the grueling decision to leave the lives and families built here under more lenient enforcement policies to return to home countries that many have not seen for decades,” the Times report said. “But even in liberal-leaning California, where undocumented immigrants enjoy greater access to social services than in many regions of the U.S., advocates say they are fielding more questions from people who fear being plucked up and deported and are considering leaving on their own terms.”
Although precise data on how many illegal immigrants have left the country is limited, the trend appears to be moving in a positive direction. Earlier this month, reports indicated that 5,000 individuals had opted to self-deport using the Customs and Border Protection smartphone app. Border czar Tom Homan has repeatedly stated in recent days it’s better for someone in the U.S. illegally to self-deport because if they are captured and ordered deported, they will be forever barred from coming back into the country legally.
But the self-deportations — along with the forced deportations — are not being well-received by Democrats. As DOGE boss and billionaire Elon Musk has stated, the Biden-Harris regime facilitated millions of illegal immigrants to manipulate the Census and pump up the populations of Democrat-run states so as to prevent the loss of congressional seats as citizens flee high taxes, high prices, and regulatory hell.
In March 2024, Elon Musk responded to an appearance by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) on FOX Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” where the senator claimed Democrats are seeking to use illegal immigration to boost their electoral power in blue states. Hagerty argued that with an estimated 10 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., the population could amount to the equivalent of 13 House districts, depending on how they are counted and allocated.
“More presidential and House of Representatives electoral votes will be assigned to the new illegals Biden has let in than the population of 40 US states,” Musk wrote. “Let that sink in.” He added: “Increasing illegals boosts Dem voting power, causing them to recruit even more! If Dems win President, House & Senate (with enough seats to overcome filibuster), they’ll grant citizenship to all illegals & America will become a permanent one-party deep socialist state.” Musk added that the dynamic incentivizes Democrats to permit illegal immigration.
