U.S. deportations of immigrants increased sharply in the past year, reaching the highest level since 2014, according to a report released Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In fiscal year 2024, which ended on September 30, ICE deported about 271,000 immigrants to 192 countries, surpassing previous years under President Biden and the Trump administration.
This surge marks the highest deportation tally since Biden took office in 2021. While Biden originally sought to reverse Trump’s strict immigration policies, the rising number of deportations reflects his administration’s struggle with high illegal immigration rates and his gradual shift towards tougher enforcement.
Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, focused heavily on deportations and vowed to launch large-scale operations during his second term. His spokesperson Karoline Leavitt criticized Biden’s approach, arguing that the current deportations were insufficient compared to the illegal immigration challenges.
Estimates suggest that about 13 million to 14 million immigrants in the U.S. lack legal status or have temporary protections. Although Biden’s deportations rose in fiscal year 2024, the number of ICE arrests for immigration violations dropped by 33%, as many officers were reassigned to border security operations.
Under Trump, ICE deported 267,000 immigrants in fiscal year 2019, a number lower than most years during Obama’s presidency. When factoring in both ICE deportations and returns to Mexico by U.S. border authorities, Biden’s numbers in fiscal 2023 surpassed all of Trump’s years.
As the Biden administration grapples with immigration challenges, the incoming Trump administration promises to intensify deportations in its pursuit of stricter immigration control.
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