As his term comes to a close, President Joe Biden of the United States has set a new high, deporting 271,484 migrants during the fiscal year 2024. This figure marks the largest number of deportations in over ten years, surpassing any annual totals achieved by his predecessor, Donald Trump. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency's annual report reveals that deportations in 2024 nearly doubled those of the previous fiscal year, which saw 142,580 expulsions. Additionally, this new record exceeds the previous high of 267,258 deportations in the fiscal year 2019 under the Trump Administration. These numbers indicate a tightening of immigration policies in Biden's final year and an effort to streamline procedures and enhance diplomatic cooperation with receiving nations.
Significant Surge in Deportations Under Biden
The remarkable increase in deportations during Biden's administration contrasts sharply with the first two years of his term, which saw significantly lower numbers: 59,011 in 2021 and 72,177 in 2022. Multiple factors contribute to this progressive rise, as noted by the American press:
Streamlined Processes: ICE focused on deporting recent migrants who entered the U.S. illegally. According to the report, 82% of those deported in 2024 were individuals apprehended after crossing the border unlawfully.
Increased Deportation Flights: The Biden administration significantly expanded flights to migrant-sending countries in Latin America, including Mexico (which received 87,298 deportees), Guatemala (66,435), and Honduras (45,923). Moreover, agreements were reached with countries like China, which had not accepted U.S. deportations for years.
Diplomatic Cooperation: Greater willingness from migrant-sending countries facilitated the increase in deportations. Maureen Meyer, Vice President for Programs at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), emphasized that this collaboration was crucial in achieving the record numbers.
A Comparison with Past Administrations: Trump and Obama
While Biden's immigration approach was less confrontational in rhetoric than Trump's, the deportation figures surpassed those of his Republican predecessor. During Trump's previous term (2017-2021), his peak deportations occurred in 2019 with 267,258 people expelled. However, he couldn't exceed the historic record of over 400,000 annual deportations set by Barack Obama in 2012.
Biden's increase in deportations is attributed to a series of administrative measures and international cooperation, contrasting with the challenges Trump faced, particularly from Democratic states and civil organizations resisting his mass raid initiatives. Nonetheless, Biden, Obama, and Trump shared a focus on prioritizing the deportation of migrants with criminal records. In 2024, ICE reported that 88,763 deportees (32.7%) had criminal histories, with common offenses including 47,885 violent assaults, 16,552 sex crimes, 10,862 weapons-related offenses, 9,453 robberies, 2,699 homicides, and 2,423 kidnappings.
Despite these figures, critics argue that Biden's policies did not address the underlying issue of irregular immigration and that more restrictive measures to curb the migratory flow at the border were insufficient to stop crossings.
Political and Economic Dynamics Influencing the Numbers
The rise in deportations under Biden coincided with a political climate marked by Donald Trump's 2024 election campaign, during which he won the November 5th elections on a platform promising the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. However, experts caution that, despite Trump's plans to triple ICE resources and increase detention capacity from the current 41,000 beds to 100,000, logistical and legal challenges could impede his implementation.
The Biden administration also sought to boost ICE resources through a bipartisan proposal in Congress, but it was blocked by Republicans aligned with Trump's immigration policies. Currently, ICE has 6,000 agents, a number unchanged for a decade, and faces what interim director Patrick J. Lechleitner described as a "chronic lack of funding."
Impact on Sending Countries and the U.S.
Cooperation with sending countries like Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras was key to the increase in deportations. These countries, besides accepting more deportation flights, face challenges reintegrating deported citizens, many of whom return without job or family ties.
In the United States, mass deportations also spark controversy due to their impact on economic sectors such as agriculture and construction, which heavily rely on immigrant labor. States like California, Illinois, and Maryland, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, argue that deportations could lead to worker shortages in key industries.
Despite the surge in deportations, measures implemented by Biden in June 2024 to curb migratory flow resulted in a significant decrease in encounters at the Mexican border. According to CBP data, illegal crossings reached their lowest level since July 2020, with 46,610 encounters in November 2024, a 76% drop from November 2023.
Key Questions on Biden's Deportation Record
What factors contributed to the increase in deportations under Biden?
The increase was due to streamlined deportation processes, increased deportation flights, and enhanced diplomatic cooperation with migrant-sending countries.
How does Biden's deportation record compare to Trump's and Obama's?
Biden's deportations in 2024 surpassed Trump's peak in 2019, but did not exceed Obama's record of over 400,000 deportations in 2012.
What challenges do sending countries face with increased deportations?
Sending countries face the challenge of reintegrating deported citizens, many of whom return without job or family ties.