Congressman Chip Roy (R) is requesting updated deportation and immigration enforcement data from the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that Congress and the public need a clearer picture of the Trump administration's efforts to secure the border and remove illegal immigrants.
What is Roy asking DHS to provide?
Rep. Roy sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin seeking detailed information on arrests, deportations, and other immigration enforcement actions carried out by the Trump administration.
Roy said the request is intended to provide lawmakers and the public with a comprehensive accounting of enforcement efforts following years of high levels of illegal immigration during the Biden administration.
What Roy is saying
Rep. Chip Roy: "As Congress and the American people witness the Trump Administration's historic efforts to restore border security and enforce our immigration laws after years of failed policies under the Biden Administration, a timely and comprehensive accounting of the Administration's enforcement actions is essential."
Roy added that detailed reporting would help policymakers evaluate progress and identify opportunities for improvement as the administration pursues its immigration enforcement goals.
Why is Roy seeking clarification?
In the letter, Roy pointed to what he described as conflicting reports regarding deportation totals.
According to the letter, DHS has stated that it carried out more than 605,000 deportations during 2025. However, Roy noted that some media reports have cited figures showing more than 230,000 interior removals during the same period.
Questions raised in the letter
Roy asked DHS to provide:
- A breakdown of deportations conducted at the border versus within the U.S. interior.
- Data on how many deported individuals had criminal backgrounds.
- Information on the methodology used to calculate self-deportations or voluntary departures.
- Updated removal figures that can be reviewed by Congress and the public.
The Political Context
The request comes as immigration and border security remain central policy priorities for the Trump administration and congressional Republicans. Roy argued that transparent reporting is necessary to measure progress toward the administration's stated goal of conducting what President Trump has described as the largest deportation operation in American history.
