Biden administration sets 10-year record for migrant deportations, surpasses Trump-era figures

The Biden administration deported over 271,000 immigrants in the last fiscal year, marking the highest number in nearly a decade, according to a report from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released Thursday.

This figure surpasses deportation totals during former President Donald Trump’s first term, even as President Joe Biden initially pledged to pause deportations in 2021.

The significant increase comes amid a surge in border crossings, prompting a shift in Biden’s immigration policy. The ICE report highlights that most of the deportations in 2024 involved migrants apprehended by border officials, with 82% of deportees falling into this category.

This record-breaking number, achieved through streamlined immigration processes, was revealed just weeks before Trump’s return to the presidency.

Karoline Leavitt, the incoming national press secretary for Trump’s administration, criticized Biden’s deportation efforts, calling them inadequate in light of the overall immigration crisis during his presidency. "On day one, President Trump will fix the immigration and national security nightmare that Joe Biden created by launching the largest mass deportation operation of illegal criminals in United States history," she stated.

Despite Biden’s high deportation numbers, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows a drop in migrant encounters along the US-Mexico border to their lowest levels since 2020.

While Trump has emphasized mass deportations as a key priority of his incoming administration, ICE faces significant budget constraints. The agency reported a $230 million shortfall, which could delay Trump’s proposed large-scale deportation operations.