‘Deporter-in-chief’ Obama surpassed deportations under Trump’s first term
Many Democrats are expressing dissatisfaction with President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations in his second term. However, some commentators are pointing out that former President Barack Obama oversaw millions of deportations, earning him the title “deporter-in-chief.”
During Obama’s eight years in office, approximately 5,248,413 returns and removals of illegal migrants were carried out by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In his first term alone, from 2009 to 2012, there were approximately 3,175,696 returns and removals. This is significantly higher than the approximately 1,795,888 returns and removals carried out by the Trump administration during his first term.
Under President Biden, returns and removals initially decreased in the first two years but then started to increase. In fiscal year 2024, there were 700,000 returns and removals of illegal immigrants, the highest number since 2010. This increase came after the Biden administration set a record for the highest number of illegal migrants entering the country in a single year in 2023, with 2,475,669 southwest border encounters.
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, explained that there were more deportations under Obama due to higher levels of illegal immigration and strong interior enforcement in his first term. However, she cautioned against interpreting the DHS returns and removal numbers without considering the context. Vaughan noted that the Obama administration started counting removals by Border Patrol the same as interior removals by ICE in 2012, blurring the lines on what is considered a deportation.
It is estimated that there are currently 11 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. Trump and his “border czar,” former-acting ICE Director Tom Homan, have pledged to use any means necessary, including declaring a national emergency and utilizing military resources, to remove illegal migrants from the country, starting with those deemed a risk to public safety.
As Democrats voice their concerns about Trump’s deportation plans, it is essential to remember the deportation statistics from previous administrations and the complexities involved in immigration enforcement policies. The issue of mass deportations continues to be a contentious topic in American politics, with differing perspectives on how best to address the challenges posed by illegal immigration.
