About Global Migration

Deportations

The trend in deportations from the U.S. has been increasing since 2025. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as of early January 2026, the U.S. government has reported over 605,000 formal deportations since the new administration (January 2025). An additional 1.9 million individuals have reportedly “self-deported” during that same period, which brings the total number of individuals who have left the U.S. to over 2.5 million.

Detentions under the Current Administration

• ICE detained 277,913 people in 2024 and 66,886 people in 2025. 
• ICE deported 271,484 people in 2024, and 71,405 people in 2025, including 17,157 with a Criminal Conviction, 6,369 with Pending Criminal Charges, and 47,879 considered “other immigration violators”. 

Source: ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics | ICE

This administration has appropriated more money for immigration enforcement, which includes detention within the U.S. Earlier this year, there were around 39,000 detainees under ICE detention, but those numbers have increased exponentially over the past months.

According to the Cato Institute (November 2025), ICE has recorded the following starting the new fiscal year (October 2025):

• 73% of the people under ICE custody had NO criminal conviction
• Nearly half of the population under ICE custody had NO criminal conviction or any pending criminal charges
• 8% had a violent or property criminal conviction
• ONLY 5% had a criminal conviction

Sources:

Migration Policy Institute (2025) U.S. Immigration Detention Grows to Record Highs under the Trump Administration

Immigration Detention in the United States by Agency

Cato Institute: ICE Detentions Data

Current conditions inside Camp East Montana (as of February 2026):

According to a new ICE report, there have already been 60 violations at the new detention center in Fort Bliss. These violations include a lack of proper medical attention to detainees dealing with certain medical conditions; a lack of proper and basic procedures to keep both guards and detainees safe; and detainees were not able to contact their lawyers for weeks. 

The population of this facility increases daily; as of January 2026, Camp East Montana contains approximately 2903 individuals (NBC).  

In 2025, at least 32 people died under ICE custody, all across the U.S. (The Guardian). And as of February 2026, at least three people have died at Camp East Montana, one of whom was ruled a homicide by the El Paso Medical Examiner's Office (Texas Tribune).

Currently, ICE is the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency, sitting at a $77 billion USD budget, which is expected to increase in the next few months. The House of Representatives has already passed the bill that would increase its funding, and it is now in the Senate, where it could still be blocked. If you want to prevent the increase, call your senators and urge them to oppose any increase to ICE's budget.

Through the “Big Beautiful Bill” in 2025, ICE has been granted approximately $75 billion in total supplemental funding, in addition to the $11.3 billion it received for the 2026 Fiscal Year. While this funding is spread across multiple fiscal years rather than allocated as a single-year budget, it provides ICE with unprecedented financial capacity, making it one of the most heavily funded federal law enforcement agencies in recent history, and allowing the agency to continue operations with fewer constraints than other DHS components that depend on annual congressional appropriations.

In contrast, other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components do not enjoy this level of financial flexibility. CBP, FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard rely primarily on annual congressional appropriations and have not received comparable supplemental funding.

Sources

Big Budget Act Creates a “Deportation-Industrial Complex” | Brennan Center for Justice

Appropriations Committees Release Homeland Security Funding Bill

How ICE became the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency: NPR

BILL SUMMARY: Homeland Security Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Bill

The current administration has entered into agreements with countries around the world, including El Salvador, Ghana, Eswatini, and South Sudan. Some of the deportees in the U.S. are being sent to these third-country destinations. On June 23, 2025, the Supreme Court just ruled in favor of the Trump Administration to continue with these expedited removals to these far-away countries, regardless of whether it denies due process for deportees. 

The administration is working to secure more agreements with other countries, especially in Africa, to accept deportees who are not citizens of those countries. Currently, Uganda’s government has agreed to receive deportees from the U.S.; however, they said that they prefer these to be from African origin.

Sources:

US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

Congress

‘The whole scheme stinks’: Ugandans question deal to take US deportees

Here’s Where Trump’s Deportations Are Sending Migrants

Here are the 3rd-countries where the Trump admin is deporting migrants

As of the end of 2024, the most recent reporting period (UNHCR), 123.2 million people had been forced to flee their homes globally due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order.

Among them were nearly 42.7 million refugees. In addition, there were 73.5 million people displaced within the borders of their own countries (IDPs) and 8.4 million asylum-seekers. 

There are also 4.4 million stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and lack access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement. (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

Children account for 29% of the world’s population, but 40% of all forcibly displaced people are children. (UNHCR)

UNHCR estimates that 2.4 million children were born into refugee life between 2018 and 2024, equivalent to some 338,000 children per year. (UNHCR)

There are three commonly attempted solutions to forced displacement—but all have serious limitations:

• Return home – This requires resolution of the conditions that caused displacement. However, most refugee-producing situations last over 26 years, making return impossible for many.
• Integrate into the country of refuge – 86% of refugees are hosted by developing nations that often lack the capacity to provide sustainable integration.
• Resettle in another country – Fewer than 1% of the world’s refugees are resettled each year, due to limited global participation and political will.

Stateless people are not recognized as citizens by any country. At least 4.4 million people are officially stateless, though the true number is likely much higher.

Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Abara describes migration as being driven by conflict, hope, and a future. People often migrate due to:

• Push factors: violence, poverty, persecution, or systemic injustice
• Pull factors: safety, opportunity, or family reunification

Migration is shaped by both personal realities and global systems—including unjust policies, economic interdependence, and misinformation. Few people want to leave their homeland, but many are forced to by circumstances beyond their control.

As described by scholar Sarah Quezada, migration often follows these paths:

• Blood – Family-based immigration
• Sweat – Employment-based immigration
• Tears – Refugee or asylee status
• Chance – Diversity visa lottery

Undocumented immigrants contribute around $11.74 billion annually in state and local taxes. The loss of undocumented labor would cost the U.S. economy an estimated $5 trillion over a decade.

Did you know that nearly half of Fortune 500 Companies were founded by immigrants or their children?

An increase in immigration over the 2021–2026 period boosts federal revenues as well as mandatory spending and interest on the debt in CBO’s baseline projections, lowering deficits, on net, by $0.9 trillion over the 2024–2034 period.

Sources: 

Undocumented immigrants will boost economy, lower deficit, CBO says

More immigration means gains for U.S. economy, CBO says

• 65% of US adults believe that “violence in home country” is a major reason for why large numbers of migrants are seeking to enter at the border with Mexico. - PEW Research Center
• More than any other religious group, white evangelicals believe that the large migrant flow at the Southern border is contributing to more crime in the US (82%). White catholics (70%) and white non-evangelical protestants (69%) are the only other two religious groups in which the majority believe this to be true.  - PEW Research Center
• Only 43% of Americans support increasing facilities for holding immigrants in the country illegally while they await decisions about deportation - PEW Research Center
• 59% of Americans disapprove of ending Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for those who already had it approved -  PEW Research Center
• 61% of Americans disapprove of sending immigrants in the U.S. Illegally to a prison in El Salvador - PEW Research Center
• 78% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents approve of the administration’s approach to immigration, including 51% who strongly approve. Just 12% disapprove. In contrast, 81% of Democrats and Democratic leaners disapprove, with 63% strongly disapproving. Just 9% approve. - PEW Research Center
• Half of Americans say the administration’s approach to deporting immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally is “too careless.” In June of 2025, about four-in-ten (39%) say the administration’s approach has been about right, while 9% say it’s been too careful. PEW Research Center
• As has long been the case, the majority of Americans (65%) say that there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally, with 36% saying these immigrants should be eligible for citizenship if they meet certain requirements. PEW Research Center
• Today, 41% of Republicans and 89% of Democrats say there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. legally. In 2017, 61% of Republicans said this, as did 88% of Democrats. PEW Research Center
• The share of Republicans saying there should be a national effort to deport those in the country illegally has grown substantially over the last eight years – 56% say this in 2025, up from 34% in 2017. - PEW Research Center
• A 56% majority of Americans now favor expanding the wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, up from 46% in 2019. PEW Research Center

Top countries of origin for new U.S. immigrants as of 2025:

• Mexico: 22% 
• India: 6%
• China: 6%
• Philippines: 4%
• Cuba: 3%

Source: Pew Research Center (2025)

For your information:

What does DACA mean?

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a U.S. immigration policy that offers eligible young people who arrived in the country as children temporary protection from deportation and permission to work.

CURRENTLY: As of January 17, 2025, USCIS will continue to process DACA renewal requests and any other employment applications, but will not process new/initial requests. New submitted DACA requests will remain pending and will not be processed further until the court order is resolved (Texas v. United States). Specifically in Texas, new DACA applications are more limited.

If you or a loved one has DACA and needs resources:

Here are some low-to no-cost legal aid organizations in the region that you can contact for assistance.

• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)
  • 301 South Texas Avenue, Mercedes, TX 78570
  • (956) 996-8752
  • https://www.trla.org/
• Estrella del Paso
  • 2400 E. Yandell Dr., El Paso, TX 79903
  • (915) 532-3975
  • https://www.estrelladelpaso.org/
• Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center
  • 1500 E. Yandell Dr., El Paso, TX 79902
  • (915) 544- 5126
  • https://www.las-americas.org/
• New Mexico Immigrant Law Center
  • 625 Silver Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
  • (505) 247-1023
  • https://www.nmilc.org/
• National Immigration Legal Services Directory
  •  https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/

As of August 2025, DACA recipients are no longer eligible for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Here are some resources for low to no-cost health clinics in El Paso.

• Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe
  • 1314 E. Yandell, El Paso, TX 79902
  • (915) 534-7979
  • https://lafe-ep.org/
• Westside Free Clinic
  • (915) 213-0169
  • https://westsidefreeclinic.org/
• RotaCare El Paso
  • 301 S Schutz Dr, El Paso, TX 79907
  • (Opens most Saturdays
  • (915) 790-0700
  • https://rotacareelpaso.com/

Below is a Health Center locator. By entering your postal code, you can find nearby health clinics that provide low-cost or, in some cases, free medical services. 

https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

If you want to advocate for DACA recipients or the program’s existence:

One way you can support DACA recipients and their families is by staying involved. We encourage you to reach out to your U.S. Senators and Members of Congress to express your support for DACA recipients. Your voice can help ensure that lawmakers understand the importance of protecting Dreamers and their families.

Contact Representative of Texas’s 16th Congressional District – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar

(915) 541-1400

https://escobar.house.gov/contact/

Texas Senator John Cornyn

(202) 224-2934

https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/share-opinion/

Texas Senator Ted Cruz

(202) 224-5922 

https://www.cruz.senate.gov/contact

If you are not local to El Paso, reach out to your representative

 https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Another way to support DACA recipients is to explore alternative immigration pathways, such as work visas. In some cases, employers can sponsor a DACA recipient to obtain a permanent resident card (Green Card) or a temporary work permit. Below is a guide for employers on how to begin this process.

https://www.ilrc.org/Employment-Based

https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/supporting-daca-team-members/

There are also scholarship programs specifically designed for immigrant and undocumented students.

DREAM.US Scholars https://www.thedream.us/

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a partner of TheDream, a program that provides scholarships to immigrant students. These scholarships facilitate access to in-state tuition and partially cover tuition and fees.

Abara’s guide to sustainable advocacy practice: click here
World Relief’s Advocacy Guide 2025: click here
Pew Research: click here
FactCheck.org: click here
Hope Border Institute: click here
Migration Data Portal: click here
Migration Policy Institute: click here
National Immigration Forum: click here
The UN Refugee Agency: click here
We Choose Welcome: click here
World Migration Report: click here
World Relief: click here