By Satnam Singh Chahal | Punjab Outlook — Immigration Analysis-A new report published by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) on November 11, 2026, challenges the public perception that immigration removals have increased under President Donald Trump’s second administration.
Based on official Department of Homeland Security records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, TRAC found that formal removals declined after Trump returned to office in January 2025. Monthly removals fell from 30,893 in January 2025 to 26,908 in July 2026, according to the report.
The report says that 446,180 people were formally removed in fiscal year 2024, the final full year of the Biden administration. By comparison, removals during the latest 12-month period, August 2025 to July 2026, totalled 316,601 — a decline of approximately 29%.
TRAC also found that the latest 12-month removal figure was lower than the annual totals recorded during every fiscal year from 2008 to 2016 under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
An important distinction in the report concerns formal removals and voluntary departures. In July 2026, total deportations, including voluntary departures and returns, reached 42,399, while formal removals accounted for 26,908. Formal removals represented 63% of the total, voluntary departures 31%, and voluntary returns approximately 6%.
TRAC further reported a sharp increase in voluntary departures ordered by immigration judges. More than 100,000 such orders were issued during fiscal year 2026, compared with approximately 9,000 in fiscal year 2024. The number of people leaving following these orders was estimated at 134,000.
The report identifies several possible reasons for this increase, including rising asylum denials, faster immigration proceedings and the denial of bond to detained individuals. It also points to procedures allowing individuals to waive immigration court hearings and agree to deportation.
NAPA’s concern is that these figures must be understood in their proper legal and human context. Punjabi and Sikh immigrant families in the United States deserve transparent information, fair hearings and access to appropriate legal assistance. No individual should feel pressured to give up legal rights because of detention, uncertainty or lack of representation.
“Immigration enforcement must be judged by verified facts rather than political claims. Every immigration case involves human lives, families and futures. We support lawful enforcement, but it must be carried out with fairness, transparency, accountability and respect for due process. The rights and dignity of Punjabi and Sikh immigrant families must be protected.”
NAPA urges US immigration authorities to publish accurate statistics distinguishing formal removals, voluntary departures and voluntary returns. These categories should not be presented as if they have identical legal consequences.
Source: TRAC report, November 11, 2026, based on DHS records obtained through FOIA litigation. Data current through August 24, 2026.