DHS claims ad campaign prompted 2.2M self-deportations, saved taxpayers billions

SPECIAL: Lauren Bis, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), told Fox News Digital that DHS’s international advertising campaign encouraged more than 2.2 million illegal immigrants to self-deport and saved taxpayers more than $39 billion, pushing back against Democratic lawmakers who criticized the nearly $200 million initiative at a heated Senate hearing on Tuesday.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. and Peter Welch, D-Vt., Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. along with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about a lucrative contract for an advertising campaign in which she appeared and was awarded to a company where former spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin’s husband worked.

But Bis said the campaign, which filmed at Mount Rushmore in October, was worth the cost and led to millions of people being deported and billions of taxpayer dollars saved.

“Sanctuary politicians are attacking this ad campaign because it has been successful in CLOSING our borders and allowing more than 2.2 million illegal aliens to leave the United States,” Bis said. “DHS’s domestic and international ad campaign was the most successful in U.S. history. The results speak for themselves: 2.2 million illegal aliens have self-deported, and we now have the most secure border in American history.”

Bis added that an arrest and removal by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) costs U.S. taxpayers an average of $18,000.

“Despite advertising costs [U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)] “With a $2,600 exit bonus, self-deportation is 70% cheaper than the forced removal of ICE,” he said. “This ad campaign saved U.S. taxpayers more than $39 billion.”

DHS announced that not all self-deporters received the exit bonus when they fled the country.

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At the beginning of 2023, the net cost to the United States from illegal immigration was at least $150.7 billion. research From the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

According to FAIR, illegal immigration costs each American taxpayer $1,156 per year, and each illegal immigrant costs the U.S. government $8,776 annually.

The organization found that illegal immigrants paid just under $32 billion in taxes, but the negative economic impact of illegal immigration reached $182 billion; This means they cover only one-sixth of the costs they create.

The research showed that the negative economic impact of illegal immigration increased from approximately $116 billion in 2017 to $35 billion in five years.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is sworn in before testifying at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

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Welch also questioned Noem during the hearing about accusations that advertising contracts were awarded under a declared border “emergency,” allowing DHS to bypass normal competitive bidding rules.

Noem told the Senate she wasn’t involved in the contracting process but understood there were “many” companies vying for the job.

“I don’t believe it is [a no-bid contract],” Noem said. “I believe other companies are competing for this because there [were] Two different vendors were chosen.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Graeme Sloan/Getty Images)

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Welch countered by claiming that DHS awarded $143 million to Safe America Media, which was founded seven days before receiving the contract.

Safe America Media then subcontracted to McLaughlin’s husband’s company, Strategy Group, according to Welch.

Noem asked Welch, “Are you talking about the subcontractor in the contract?” he asked. “Senator, I was not a part of that decision. We followed the same processes that are our policies and how they were carried out appropriately.”

McLaughlin left DHS last month following reports that she had ties to her husband’s company.

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Noem’s advisor Corey Lewandowski is also allegedly working with the Strategy Group. report From ProPublica.

But it’s unclear whether Lewandowski received any money from the deal with Safe America or Strategy Group. Noem promised to investigate the matter.

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