JD Vance claims there was major drop in illegal immigration under Trump, cites 3 million migrant departures

US Vice President JD Vance has credited President Donald Trump’s immigration policies for a sharp decline in illegal immigration, claiming more than three million migrants have left the country during Trump’s second term and that Border Patrol recorded zero migrant releases into the US interior during fiscal year 2026.

US Vice President JD Vance has credited Donald Trump’s immigration policies for a sharp fall in border apprehensions and migrant releases. (Getty Images via AFP)In a post on X, Vance said the administration had gone 17 consecutive months without releasing apprehended undocumented migrants into the country’s interior, describing the figures as evidence of a major shift in border enforcement.

“Turns out all we needed was a new President!” Vance wrote, listing what he described as the administration’s achievements in immigration enforcement. The vice president said total Border Patrol apprehensions during FY2026 stood at 98,708, a figure he claimed was lower than the Biden administration’s highest monthly apprehension total of 249,740.

Vance said FY2026 marked the first fiscal year in US history with zero Border Patrol releases, referring to apprehended migrants not being released into the country's interior while their immigration cases proceeded. The administration has largely ended the practice commonly known as catch-and-release, under which some migrants apprehended at the border were temporarily released into the US.

The figures cited by Vance are consistent with preliminary data released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in October. CBP reported 98,708 southwest border apprehensions during FY2026, alongside 379,243 nationwide encounters, which DHS described as the lowest annual total on record.

However, zero releases does not mean zero illegal crossings. Border Patrol continues to apprehend migrants attempting to enter the US, while some crossings go undetected. Vance also claimed that more than three million migrants had left the US during Trump's second term, with the undocumented immigrant population declining by at least 2.3 million.

The White House has previously cited deportations, voluntary departures and a reduction in illegal immigration to support claims of a shrinking undocumented population. The administration has presented its border enforcement policies, including increased arrests and removals, as central to the decline.

Vance further claimed that the Trump administration had prevented more than 10,000 narco-terrorists from entering the country, although the post did not provide details about how that figure was calculated. The vice president's remarks come as border security and deportations remain central to Trump's second-term immigration agenda.

The administration has repeatedly highlighted declining apprehensions and the end of migrant releases as evidence of tougher enforcement. Asmi is a Senior Content Producer primarily covering stories related to NRIs, immigration, visas, citizenship and global mobility.

She closely follows developments that affect Indians living, working and studying abroad, with a particular focus on translating complex policies and international developments into clear, accessible stories for readers.

As part of the US Desk, Asmi also reports on a wide range of political, economic and social developments in the United States, exploring their relevance to Indian and global audiences. Her work spans breaking news, features, trends and explanatory stories, with an emphasis on accuracy, timely reporting and audience-focused storytelling.

Asmi likes finding the human angle behind major developments and bringing context to stories that can often feel complicated or distant. She is especially interested in stories around immigration, life abroad, careers, education and the experiences of the Indian diaspora, while also exploring a wide range of topics that spark curiosity and conversation.

Outside the newsroom, Asmi is an avid reader and loves travelling, discovering new places, experiencing different cultures and collecting stories along the way.Read More