US authorities deported over 270,000 people in a single year, according to preliminary official data released yesterday, Thursday, just a month before Republican Donald Trump returns to power. Trump has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
The number of deportations—the last under President Joe Biden—was the highest in the past decade, including Trump’s first term (2017–2021).
Most of the deportees had crossed the border with Mexico illegally, according to the annual report from the federal agency responsible for border control and immigration (ICE).
Approximately one-third were prosecuted or had been convicted by the US justice system for “criminal activity,” the report stated.
Election period context
The data covers the period from October 2023 to September 2024, roughly coinciding with the US election campaign. During this time, Donald Trump once again made illegal immigration a central campaign issue.
The former president has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history once he returns to the White House on 20th January. This threat has raised significant concerns among NGOs advocating for immigrant rights.
This declaration, based on the unfounded claim that immigrants commit more crimes than US citizens, has proven popular with Trump’s base.
Trump has yet to clarify how he plans to implement this policy, and analysts suggest such operations could prove extremely costly and unlikely to be effective.
ICE statement
“Every year, our workforce faces enormous challenges—but every year, we meet them,” said ICE Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner.
Illegal border crossings into the US surged following Democratic President Joe Biden’s inauguration in early 2021 but dropped significantly in the past year after his administration tightened asylum procedures.
Undocumented population
In 2022, an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants were living in the US, according to the Pew Research Center. Donald Trump and his allies claim the real number is far higher.
Many undocumented immigrants work and pay taxes in the US, often as unskilled labourers.
Critics of the former and future president warn that mass deportations would harm the US economy, leading to labour shortages in sectors like agriculture and construction, among others.
Economists caution that a lack of workers would drive prices higher, undermining another of Trump’s grand promises: to dramatically reduce inflation.
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