In a significant surge, U.S. immigration authorities deported more than 271,000 undocumented immigrants in the 2024 fiscal year, marking the highest number in nearly a decade. This figure surpasses the record set during the first term of former President Donald Trump, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The dramatic increase in deportations comes just weeks before President-elect Trump takes office, with his administration promising to focus heavily on mass deportation as a cornerstone of its immigration policy. Trump has pledged to launch what he calls the “largest deportation operation in history” upon his return to power on January 20.
The ICE report revealed that 82% of the deportations involved migrants apprehended by border officials, as opposed to arrests made in the U.S. interior. The rise in deportations was partly attributed to a streamlined process and improved diplomatic efforts. Notably, more deportation flights were directed to countries in Africa and Asia, where the U.S. had struggled to send deportees for years due to diplomatic barriers.
Despite his initial pledge in 2021 to pause deportations, President Joe Biden’s administration ended up expanding deportation efforts as border crossings surged. This shift came in response to record migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border, which peaked in December 2023. However, these encounters have dropped significantly in recent months, reaching their lowest level since July 2020, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The rise in deportations is also linked to cooperation with Mexico, which has stepped up efforts to curb the flow of migrants northward. In June, President Biden issued an executive order sharply limiting asylum, which, coupled with Mexico’s enhanced border enforcement, contributed to a notable decrease in illegal border crossings.
The Biden administration’s efforts have resulted in a 70% drop in the number of individuals released by U.S. Border Patrol pending immigration court proceedings, a measure seen as crucial in managing the growing number of migrant encounters.
As Trump prepares to take office again, he faces significant logistical and financial challenges in carrying out his ambitious deportation plans, despite his vocal criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies during the campaign.
Trump’s transition spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed the Biden administration’s deportation efforts as insufficient, emphasizing that Trump’s deportation strategy would address what she described as a “national security nightmare” caused by illegal immigration.
As the US enters a new chapter under the incoming Trump administration, the future of immigration enforcement remains uncertain, with the nation facing continued debates over border security and the treatment of undocumented migrants
United States Politics Blog