Deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have reached a 10-year high in fiscal year 2024, surpassing the previous record set during the Trump administration in 2019. According to a government report, ICE deported over 271,000 unauthorized immigrants, exceeding the peak of 267,000 under Trump.
The increase is attributed to the Biden administration’s increased efforts to streamline the deportation process and persuade countries to take back deportees. Most of the deportations involved migrants apprehended by Customs and Border Protection, with 82% of those deported initially arrested by CBP.
ICE’s non-detained docket of cases has ballooned to nearly 7.7 million, reflecting record releases of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border during Mr. Biden’s presidency. The incoming Trump administration plans to launch a massive deportation effort upon taking office, targeting unauthorized immigrants with criminal records and those with pending orders.
However, this plan relies on significant resource and manpower increases, including potentially enlisting the Department of Defense or deputizing National Guard soldiers. With over 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., the task ahead will be monumental.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deportations-by-ice-10-year-high-in-2024-surpassing-trump-era-peak