Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons has stated that approximately 1.6 million illegal immigrants in the United States are subject to final deportation orders, with about half of this group having criminal convictions. Lyons provided the figures during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday, a session occurring amid heightened political debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
A final deportation order is issued when an immigration judge, part of the Department of Justice, determines that an individual has violated immigration laws and must be removed from the country. Lyons clarified that these orders originate from the judicial branch, separate from ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, though ICE is responsible for enforcement. Those subject to such orders retain the right to appeal their cases or request delays, which can prolong the process.
Of the 1.6 million individuals with final orders, roughly 800,000 have criminal convictions, according to Lyons. The disclosure comes as federal operations in Minnesota have drawn national attention following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents during recent enforcement actions. These incidents triggered public outcry and protests. Lyons noted there are 16,840 individuals with final orders residing in Minnesota.
During the hearing, Republican Senator James Lankford defended ICE agents, asserting that their work has halted “chaos” and that arrests are conducted lawfully. On Thursday, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, announced a conclusion to the recent ICE operations in Minnesota, with a drawdown already in progress. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz welcomed the development, stating that “immigration is the core of who we are,” but acknowledged a “long road to recovery” for the state.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson reiterated the administration’s position, stating that President Trump is fulfilling a promise to execute “the largest mass deportation operation in history,” focusing on what she described as “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” The figures and ongoing operations underscore the scale and legal complexity of the U.S. deportation system, which continues to operate within a framework of judicial orders and enforcement priorities, even as political and public scrutiny intensifies.
