{"id":2626727,"date":"2026-07-08T13:57:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dhs-withheld-public-deportation-stats-from-watchdog-group-lawsuit-alleges\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T14:00:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T18:00:33","slug":"dhs-withheld-public-deportation-stats-from-watchdog-group-lawsuit-alleges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dhs-withheld-public-deportation-stats-from-watchdog-group-lawsuit-alleges\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawsuit: DHS Withheld Deportation Stats From Watchdog Group"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdhs-withheld-public-deportation-stats-from-watchdog-group-lawsuit-alleges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2626727&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh Heritage Foundation\u2019s Oversight Project has filed a lawsuit against the Department of homeland Security (DHS) for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >allegedly withholding public deportation records<\/a>. The institution submitted eight detailed FOIA requests to DHS, ICE, and CBP to obtain data supporting claims of 3 million deportations of illegal aliens, but DHS has only acknowledged the requests without providing the requested facts, citing delays.The Oversight Project emphasizes the importance of openness and has developed tools like the \u201cTwo Commas Compliance Tracker\u201d to monitor deportation progress. DHS officials claim that over 3 million illegal aliens have been deported, and around 2.2 million self-deportations have occurred amid increased enforcement efforts. The lawsuit is part of ongoing efforts by the Oversight Project to ensure government transparency, having previously sued DHS over related issues, including the lack of publication of annual enforcement reports and transparency about certain grant programs.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Heritage Foundation\u2019s Oversight Project is <a href=\"https:\/\/static.itsyourgov.org\/Stamped-Copy-MDC-Relied-Upon-Case-with-Exhibits.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suing<\/a> the Department of Homeland Security for allegedly withholding public deportation records.<\/p>\n<p>The Oversight Project submitted eight \u201chighly-specific\u201d Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the organization <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-announces-investigation-for-deportation-data-the-two-commas-compliance-tracker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announced<\/a> in May. The requests asked the organizations to provide data to support the claim that 3 million illegal aliens have been deported, as well as other specific data points.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, DHS has not sent along the deportation records. The lawsuit <a href=\"https:\/\/static.itsyourgov.org\/Stamped-Copy-MDC-Relied-Upon-Case-with-Exhibits.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">states<\/a>: \u201cPlaintiffs requested the records at issue in this proceeding from the Department on May 7, 2026. Two months later, and to date, Plaintiffs have received only an acknowledgment of their requests and a conditional fee waiver. DHS\u2019s failure to respond timely is a violation of FOIA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Mass Deportation Coalition, of which the Oversight Project is a member, released a <a href=\"https:\/\/massdeportationcoalition.org\/playbook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">playbook<\/a> in March to help President Donald Trump achieve his campaign promise of <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-announces-investigation-for-deportation-data-the-two-commas-compliance-tracker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">delivering<\/a> \u201cthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-confirms-hell-do-it-biggest-deportations-to-begin-at-start-of-term\/\" title=\"Trump Confirms He&#039;ll Do It - Biggest Deportations to Begin at Start of Term\">largest mass deportation operation<\/a> in American history.\u201d Part of this playbook, the Oversight Project said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-sues-for-deportation-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a>, is \u201cregular and complete data transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Oversight Project unveiled its \u201cTwo Commas Compliance Tracker\u201d in May, a <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-sues-for-deportation-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">graphic<\/a> designed to show the public the administration\u2019s progress in achieving the president\u2019s campaign promise. \u201cWe want to see two commas in the deportation numbers this year,\u201d <br \/>President of the Oversight Project Mike Howell said in the <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-sues-for-deportation-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Oversight Project and DHS have shared priorities, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-sues-for-deportation-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a>. Border Czar Tom Homan said in May that he expects deportation numbers to increase in 2026, saying \u201cmillions\u201d need to be deported.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[W]e\u2019re not going to give up on President Trump\u2019s promise to the American people on mass deportations,\u201d Homan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/tom-homan-answers-many-deportations-needed-restore-country-one-hell-shot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told<\/a> Fox News. When asked about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/indiana-lets-police-do-ice-work-ahead-of-speedway-slammer-opening-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Indiana lets pol... do ... work ahead of &#039;Speedway Slammer&#039; opening - Washington Examiner\">large-scale deportation efforts<\/a>, Homan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/tom-homan-answers-many-deportations-needed-restore-country-one-hell-shot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> he would \u201cgive it one hell of a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A DHS spokesman told The Federalist that the agency is continuing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-confirms-illegal-aliens-who-are-convicted-of-dui-rape-and-drug-related-crimes-will-not-be-deported-video\/\" title=\"White House Confirms ... Who are Convicted of DUI, Rape and Drug-Related Crimes Will NOT be ... (VIDEO)\">deport illegal aliens<\/a>, saying they have deported 3 million illegals thus far. This figure is one of the claims that the Oversight Project <a href=\"https:\/\/static.itsyourgov.org\/2026-05-07_FOIA_DHS_Relied-Upon_PressRelease.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">requested documentation<\/a> of in its FOIA requests to DHS. The department claimed it has received over a million FOIA requests, and is still processing thousands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn FY 2025, DHS set a new record for FOIA activity \u2014 receiving more than one million FOIA requests and processing nearly one million requests, including many from prior fiscal years,\u201d a DHS spokesman told The Federalist. \u201cDHS maintained its FOIA backlog at 16% of total requests received, despite a 19% increase in incoming requests. The year ended with a backlog of just over 168,000 requests.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The DHS spokesman told The Federalist that as of June 24, over 948,000 illegal aliens have been deported and over 981,000 have been arrested. In addition, they claim that the administration\u2019s crackdown on immigration caused around 2.2 million self-deportations.<\/p>\n<p>Howell, one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/static.itsyourgov.org\/Stamped-Copy-DHS-Numbers-Case-with-exhibits.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">named plaintiffs<\/a> in the case, told The Federalist that DHS could have quickly provided the deportation statistics: \u201cThis matter is now in litigation. It would have taken DHS as much time to send me the narrow deportation statistics we asked for as it took to send this unrelated note to you.\u00a0I was born at night but I wasn\u2019t born last night. I and others just want the deportation numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is not the first instance of the Oversight Project filing a lawsuit against DHS. In 2023, the organization sued the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritage.org\/press\/oversight-project-sues-dhs-targeting-the-heritage-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Biden administration\u2019s DHS<\/a> after it failed to comply with FOIA requests related to the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program. The department funded a grant program that placed Fox News, The Heritage Foundation, and the Republican Party on a \u201cpyramid of far-right radicalization,\u201d linking them to <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/05\/25\/dhs-funded-college-program-tying-fox-nra-rnc-to-neo-nazis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">neo-Nazis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the Oversight Project is again demanding transparency from the department. In addition to not responding to FOIA requests, DHS has not published its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/information-library\/annual-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">annual enforcement report<\/a> for FY 2025 which was due by \u201clate December\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-sues-for-deportation-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a> to the Oversight Project.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmericans are being asked to rely on press releases, shifting toplines, and selectively framed numbers instead of the annual data ICE is supposed to produce,\u201d the Oversight Project\u2019s press release <a href=\"https:\/\/itsyourgov.org\/press\/oversight-project-sues-for-deportation-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stated<\/a>. \u201cA press release is a claim. The annual report is a record.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Skye Graham is an intern at The Federalist. She is a senior History major at Hillsdale College and serves as the assistant features editor for the Hillsdale Collegian.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Heritage\u2019s Oversight sues DHS over deportation records<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4302,"featured_media":2626728,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ICE-no-TC-e1783517860700.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6184,7492,4585],"class_list":["post-2626727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-deportation","tag-dhs","tag-lawsuit"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ICE-no-TC-e1783517860700.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4302"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2626727"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626727\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2626731,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626727\/revisions\/2626731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2626728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2626727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2626727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2626727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}