The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday touted «historic progress» under President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem, highlighting nearly 3 million illegal immigrants who have left the United States and what officials call «the most secure border in American history.»

The statement, released as Trump delivered his first State of the Union address since returning to office, credited the administration’s policies with producing record-low border crossings, expanded immigration enforcement and billions in taxpayer savings, while criticizing congressional Democrats for shutting down DHS funding.

«Over the last 13 months, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations,» Noem said in a statement.

Noem added that total border apprehensions under the Trump administration «were lower than a single month» under the Biden administration, and DHS has saved taxpayers more than $13.2 billion.

«Countless lives have been saved, communities have been strengthened, and the American people have been put first again,» Noem stated.

DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and removed more than 1,500 known or suspected terrorists over the past year.

Nationwide immigration operations also led to nearly 8,000 gang-related arrests, including members associated with Tren de Aragua and MS-13, the department said. DHS added that it launched a new web page, «Worst of the Worst,» tracking criminal illegal immigrants arrested during federal enforcement operations under the administration.

NOEM TOUTS TSA SUCCESS AFTER THOUSANDS WITH TERROR LINKS BARRED FROM FLIGHTS AT MAJOR US AIRPORT

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said nearly 3 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. over the past 13 months under the Trump administration. (Luke Johnson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The department also reported an increase in drug seizures by Customs and Border Protection compared to the prior 12-month period, including 617,648 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide over the past year — an 8% increase over the previous year.

The Coast Guard separately seized roughly 550,000 pounds of illegal narcotics worth more than $3.9 billion through counter-drug operations and prevented more than 206 million lethal doses from reaching U.S. communities, DHS said.

DHS said it and the Department of Health and Human Services have located 145,000 unaccompanied children lost under the Biden administration.

«Too many of these children were exploited and abused before, during, and after being trafficked over our borders,» DHS said.

TRUMP’S OPERATION METRO SURGE LOCATED 3,000 MISSING MIGRANT CHILDREN IN MINNEAPOLIS, EMMER SAYS

DHS says border crossings have reached record lows under President Trump’s second term. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The department echoed comments made by Trump during his address, blaming Democrats for the partial government shutdown after Senate Democrats again blocked Republicans’ attempt to fund the department before the prime-time speech.

«Despite our historic successes, Democrat Politicians on Capitol Hill have shut down DHS, depriving many of our brave men and women who protect our national security of their paychecks—putting the livelihood of them and their families in jeopardy,» DHS said.

During his remarks, Trump criticized Democrats for failing to reach a funding deal.

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«As we speak, Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding for the Department of Homeland Security. It’s all cut off, all cut off. They have instituted another Democrat shutdown, the first one costing us two points on GDP, two points we lost on GDP, which probably made them quite happy actually,» Trump said during his speech. «They have closed the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers.»

Trump said he was «demanding» a full and immediate restoration of funding for the department and efforts to protect the border.

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Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., on Tuesday urged spring breakers with plans to visit Mexico to cancel their trips due to violent clashes in the country triggered by the Mexican army’s killing of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho,» earlier this week.

Mullin made the comments during an appearance on CNBC’s «Squawk Box,» in which he said his chiropractor was still planning to visit a popular tourist destination in Mexico.

«Anybody that’s planning on going to Mexico for spring break … I mean, my chiropractor called me yesterday and said he’s still planning on going to Cancún, I said, ‘Are you crazy?’» Mullin said.

«No one should be going down there right now, it is very volatile and the United States is laser-focused on watching what’s taking place,» he continued.

The senator’s comments come after Mexican troops conducted operations on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting El Mencho, a former police officer who became the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, which U.S. authorities have identified as a major supplier of fentanyl to the United States.

El Mencho carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and rose to power following the arrest of Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Over roughly the past 15 years, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación has expanded from a regional criminal group into a global trafficking organization operating from its stronghold in Jalisco.

The Mexican Defense Department said the operation was conducted as part of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the U.S., and that U.S. authorities provided complementary intelligence that contributed to El Mencho’s killing.

After El Mencho’s death, cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in several Mexican states. Violent clashes were also reported in parts of western Mexico.

Mexican authorities later said that the security situation had been «stabilized.»

Vehicles drive past a burning bus used as a roadblock by organized crime following a federal operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord El Mencho was killed, in Zapopan, Mexico. (Gabriel Trujillo/Reuters)

«The security situation has now stabilized following targeted operations in Jalisco,» the Mexican Embassy in the U.S. said on Tuesday.

«Federal and State authorities are proceeding to reopen transit corridors and restore public services smoothly,» the embassy continued. «Airline operations are normal, and international carriers are resuming flights today. Puerto Vallarta International Airport has reopened to domestic traffic.»

The embassy added: «If traveling through Jalisco, some local security measures remain in place, while authorities are restoring airport operations to full capacity. We are working with international partners to ensure safety and stability at all transit hubs and tourist destinations.»

But the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico remains in effect. The U.S. government earlier issued a shelter-in-place order for Americans in Mexico, but that order has since been lifted.

STATE DEPT SLAMMED WITH HUNDREDS OF CALLS FROM AMERICANS TRAPPED IN MEXICO

A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire, in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico. (AP Photo/Armando Solis)

The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación is considered the most powerful cartel in Mexico with an estimated 19,000 members and operations across 21 of the country’s 32 states.

The Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

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Mullin said on Tuesday that cartels splitting after Mexico’s operation is a «great opportunity for us, and Mexico, to take them all out.»

«Now, are we going to eliminate all the drug trafficking in the world? Absolutely not. But can we get a handle on it again? Absolutely,» he added.

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El Gobierno de Japón denunció este miércoles la detención de un ciudadano nipón en Teherán, capital de Irán, ocurrida a mediados de enero, y exigió “enérgicamente” a las autoridades de la República Islámica su liberación.

El subsecretario de gabinete, Masanao Ozaki, informó en rueda de prensa que el arresto tuvo lugar el 20 de enero, pero evitó dar detalles sobre las circunstancias o la identidad del detenido para proteger su integridad.

“Desde que se conoció el incidente de la detención, el Gobierno instó encarecidamente a la parte iraní a que lo libere lo antes posible. También estamos en contacto con el detenido, su familia y otras partes relacionadas, y le brindamos el apoyo necesario. Nos gustaría seguir brindando el máximo apoyo posible desde la perspectiva de la protección de los ciudadanos japoneses”, declaró Ozaki.

El funcionario respondió así a preguntas sobre las informaciones de Iran International, que señalaban que el detenido sería un periodista de NHK. La cadena pública japonesa se limitó a manifestar que “siempre priorizamos la seguridad de nuestro personal”. “No hay nada que podamos decir en este momento”, insistió.

Las declaraciones llegan un día después de que Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty afirmara que el jefe de la oficina de NHK en Irán, Shinnosuke Kawashima, fue arrestado en Teherán y transferido el lunes a la capitalina prisión de Evin, utilizada por Irán para recluir a presos políticos.

En la capital del país en plena crisis, estudiantes de varias universidades realizaron nuevas protestas el lunes pasado contra el régimen iraní, en la tercera jornada consecutiva de movilizaciones tras la represión que dejó miles de muertos en enero.

De acuerdo con testigos y videos verificados, las manifestaciones se llevaron a cabo en la Universidad de Sharif, la Universidad de Teherán y Al-Zahra, donde los jóvenes corearon consignas contra los ayatollahs, exhibieron banderas del antiguo monarca Reza Pahlavi y, en algunos casos, se enfrentaron con la fuerza paramilitar Basij.

En Al-Zahra, estudiantes y profesoras se congregaron para expresar su apoyo a la monarquía exiliada y reclamar derechos civiles y libertad política, gritando “¡Queremos recuperar Irán, basta de opresión!”. En el campus de Al-Zahra, los estudiantes intensificaron las protestas quemando banderas del régimen y mostrando pancartas en apoyo a la monarquía.

“Es nuestra responsabilidad levantar la voz, aunque nos amenacen con detenciones”, afirmó una estudiante que solicitó anonimato por razones de seguridad.

En la Universidad de Sharif, los alumnos se concentraron frente a la cafetería central ondeando una bandera con el emblema del león y el sol, mientras entonaban “Mujer, vida, libertad”, consigna presente en las protestas de 2022.

En la Universidad de Teherán, la protesta surgió durante un homenaje a un estudiante fallecido en las manifestaciones previas. Los asistentes corearon consignas contra el Líder Supremo, Ali Khamenei, y exigieron la caída del régimen. En esta ocasión, los guardias no intervinieron en la Universidad de Teherán, aunque se registraron enfrentamientos aislados en otros campus con miembros de la Basij que intentaron dispersar a los manifestantes.

La Agencia de Activistas de Derechos Humanos, con sede en Estados Unidos, informó que al menos 7.015 personas han fallecido, entre ellas 214 miembros de las fuerzas de seguridad. Por su parte, las autoridades iraníes reconocen 3.117 víctimas. Las restricciones en las comunicaciones dentro del país dificultan la verificación independiente de estas cifras.

(Con información de Europa Press)