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Sunday, Feb 08, 2026
Outside the box.
White House Says No Illegal Immigrants Have Been Released into the U.S. in Nine Months
Press secretary credits Trump administration’s enforcement policies with ending releases into the interior as border figures remain a central political issue
The White House has stated that no illegal immigrants have been released into the United States over the past nine months, presenting this as a defining achievement of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy.
In a press briefing on February 5, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that the administration’s policies have effectively ended the practice of releasing undocumented border crossers into the country’s interior, describing the record as “truly remarkable.”
Leavitt attributed this outcome to tighter immigration enforcement measures and deportation efforts implemented since Trump took office, saying the approach has contributed to a notable drop in crime rates in major American cities.
She argued that aggressive enforcement and cooperation with state and local authorities on detainer requests for criminal illegal immigrants have improved public safety.
Leavitt also cited what she described as broad public support for deportation policies and criticised previous administration practices, including the use of mobile app-based parole mechanisms that, according to the administration, allowed some migrants to enter the country.
The White House’s claim aligns with earlier reporting that under Trump’s renewed focus on border control, U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations recorded periods in which zero illegal immigrants were formally released into the interior.
There is, however, an important contextual distinction in official data: “zero releases” typically refers to the absence of releases pending legal proceedings rather than a literal absence of undocumented entries or apprehensions.
Federal encounter statistics from last year show ongoing crossings and apprehensions, even as the number of releases declined to zero in certain operational categories over extended stretches.
Administration officials maintained that the result reflects the broader success of their immigration enforcement programme, including changes to asylum processing policies and efforts to expedite deportations.
They reiterated a commitment to detaining and removing illegal immigrants who do not qualify for legal entry, framing the policy as upholding the rule of law and safeguarding American communities.
Critics and some analysts have urged caution in interpreting the “no releases” metric, noting that border encounters and detections of undocumented migrants have continued even if formal release into the interior has been curtailed.
In a press briefing on February 5, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that the administration’s policies have effectively ended the practice of releasing undocumented border crossers into the country’s interior, describing the record as “truly remarkable.”
Leavitt attributed this outcome to tighter immigration enforcement measures and deportation efforts implemented since Trump took office, saying the approach has contributed to a notable drop in crime rates in major American cities.
She argued that aggressive enforcement and cooperation with state and local authorities on detainer requests for criminal illegal immigrants have improved public safety.
Leavitt also cited what she described as broad public support for deportation policies and criticised previous administration practices, including the use of mobile app-based parole mechanisms that, according to the administration, allowed some migrants to enter the country.
The White House’s claim aligns with earlier reporting that under Trump’s renewed focus on border control, U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations recorded periods in which zero illegal immigrants were formally released into the interior.
There is, however, an important contextual distinction in official data: “zero releases” typically refers to the absence of releases pending legal proceedings rather than a literal absence of undocumented entries or apprehensions.
Federal encounter statistics from last year show ongoing crossings and apprehensions, even as the number of releases declined to zero in certain operational categories over extended stretches.
Administration officials maintained that the result reflects the broader success of their immigration enforcement programme, including changes to asylum processing policies and efforts to expedite deportations.
They reiterated a commitment to detaining and removing illegal immigrants who do not qualify for legal entry, framing the policy as upholding the rule of law and safeguarding American communities.
Critics and some analysts have urged caution in interpreting the “no releases” metric, noting that border encounters and detections of undocumented migrants have continued even if formal release into the interior has been curtailed.
