As discussions around immigration policies continue to evolve, comparisons between the deportation records of former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump have come to the forefront. During his two terms in office, Obama oversaw approximately 5.3 million returns and removals of illegal migrants, earning him the moniker 'deporter-in-chief.' In contrast, Trump's administration carried out around 1.8 million returns and removals during his first term, significantly fewer than Obama's initial four years.
Under the current Biden administration, the number of returns and removals initially decreased but has since started to rise. In fiscal year 2024, there were approximately 700,000 returns and removals, marking the highest figure since 2010. This uptick follows a record number of southwest border encounters in 2023, with over 2.4 million illegal migrants entering the country.
According to Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, the higher deportation numbers under Obama were partly due to increased illegal immigration during his tenure. Vaughan also highlighted changes in enforcement policies, noting that the Obama administration began counting removals by Border Patrol the same as interior removals by ICE, which impacted the deportation statistics.
It is essential to consider the context surrounding deportation figures, as policy shifts and enforcement strategies can influence the numbers. Vaughan pointed out that Obama's approach to enforcement differed from his predecessors, with a focus on imposing consequences on illegal border crossers through revised removal policies.
With an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S., the debate over deportation strategies remains contentious. While Trump and his administration emphasized stringent measures, including potential national emergency declarations and military involvement, Biden's approach has seen fluctuations in deportation rates amid ongoing challenges at the southwest border.
