DHS claims ad campaign led to 2.2 million self-deportations, saving taxpayers billions

special: section of homeland security (DHS) Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss told Fox News Digital that DHS’s international advertising campaign prompted 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 roughly $200 million initiative during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. and Peter Welch, D-VT. and Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. He questioned the DHS Secretary. Christie Noem She was featured in a lucrative contract for an advertising campaign, which was awarded to the company that employed the husband of her former spokeswoman, Tricia McLaughlin.

However, Biss said the campaign, filmed at Mount Rushmore in October, was well worth the cost and resulted in millions of self-deportations and saved billions of taxpayer dollars.

“Sanctuary politicians are attacking this ad campaign because it has succeeded in closing our borders and allowing more than 2.2 million illegal aliens to leave the US,” Biss said. “The DHS domestic and international advertising campaign was the most successful advertising campaign in US history. The results speak for themselves: 2.2 million illegal aliens self-deport, And now we have the most secure border in American history.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem rides a horse while filming a commercial at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, October 2, 2025, in South Dakota. (DHS photo/release by Tia Dufour)

Biss added that the average arrest and removal by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) costs US taxpayers $18,000.

“Even with advertising costs and (US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP)) $2,600 exit bonus, self-deportation is 70% cheaper than forced ICE removal,” she said. “This ad campaign saved US taxpayers more than $39 billion.”

DHS clarified that not all self-refugees received an exit bonus after fleeing the country.

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By the beginning of 2023, the net cost of illegal immigration to the US was at least $150.7 billion, according to Research From the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

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

The organization found that illegal immigrants paid just under $32 billion in taxes, but the negative economic impact of illegal immigration totaled $182 billion—indicating that they covered only one-sixth of the costs generated.

Research shows that the negative economic impact of illegal immigration has increased by $35 billion over five years, up from an estimated $116 billion in 2017.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem is sworn in before testifying during Senate Judiciary Committee oversight on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington. (Manuel Bals Seneta/AP Photo)

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Meanwhile, Welch also interrogated Noem Hearing The alleged advertising contracts were awarded under a declared “emergency” boundary, allowing DHS to bypass normal competitive bidding rules.

Noem told the Senate that she was not involved in the contracting process, but her understanding is that there were “several” companies competing for the job.

“I don’t believe it was (a no-bid contract),” Noem said. “I believe other companies competed for it, because there were two different vendors selected.”

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

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Welch fired back, accusing DHS of awarding Safe America Media a $143 million award that was included seven days before the contract was awarded.

Safe America Media later subcontracted McLaughlin’s husband’s firm, Strategy Group, according to Welch.

“Are you talking about the subcontractor on that contract,” Noem asked Welch. “Senator, I was not part of this decision. We followed the same procedures as our policies and how they are properly conducted.”

McLaughlin left DHS last month relationship with her husband’s company.

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Noem’s adviser, Corey Lewandowski, also reportedly worked with the strategy group. Report From ProPublica.

However, it is unclear whether Lewandowski received any money from the contract with Safe America or Strategy Group. Noem promised to look into the matter.

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