Chicago City Wire

Steve Cortes, president of the League of American Workers, said that rising self-deportations reflect U.S. immigration trends while also criticizing crime and safety in Chicago. This statement was made in a press release.

"We now have well over a million self-deportations and climbing and counting," said Cortes. "I think Eswatini is probably a lot safer than Chicago, quite frankly. Our street had private armed security."

U.S. immigration enforcement has expanded as debate over "self-deportation" intensifies. According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) FY2024 Annual Report, the agency carried out 271,484 removals, nearly double the 142,580 in FY2023. Officials noted that removals include voluntary returns and departures, categories often linked to self-deportation in political discussions about deterrence and enforcement.

While self-deportations are not directly tracked, related data show significant voluntary exits. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FY2024 monthly voluntary return events ranged from around 1,500 to over 20,000. This demonstrates the large role of non-removal departures in recent years and shapes policy debates about migration choices and enforcement outcomes.

Chicago’s crime rate has declined and compares variably with other U.S. and international cities. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, homicides in Chicago fell 13% between July 2024 and June 2025 compared with 2018–2019, following national declines. International benchmarks often show cities such as Toronto and London with lower overall crime rates, informing safety debates.

Cortes is a conservative commentator, former Trump campaign adviser, and head of the League of American Workers. According to Wikipedia, he has appeared on CNBC, CNN, Fox News, and Newsmax. He has promoted "America First" policies on immigration, trade, and labor while serving as a leading Hispanic voice in Republican outreach efforts.

The League of American Workers is a conservative advocacy group founded by Cortes to promote patriotic populism. According to the organization’s website, it advances pro-worker policies such as stronger wages, fair trade, and stricter immigration enforcement. It uses research and media outreach to influence national debates on labor and immigration policy.