The election of Donald Trump has renewed fears over mass deportations. However, Department of Homeland Security figures point to a rise in removals even before Trump arrived at the White House.
Figures released in December for the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 revealed the department apprehended 530,250 people in the United States and carried out 450,954 removals and returns of immigrants.
In 2016, border patrol picked up 415,816 people compared to 337,117 in 2015. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 114, 434 immigrants, compared to 125,211 the previous year.
The Department of Homeland Security in its press release said more people were apprehended in previous years, notably from the 1980s to 2008.
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said the Obama administration was continuing to concentrate on deporting people who pose a threat to public safety.
He said:
“In FY 2016, we continued to better focus our interior resources on removing individuals who may pose threats to public safety—specifically, convicted criminals and threats to national security. “
President Obama took a relentless approach to deportations, particularly in the early years of his administration.
A report on ABC News noted in April that he deported more people than any other president of the United States.
From 2009 to 2015, the Obama administration removed in excess of 2.5 million people through immigration orders.
The figure does not include people who “self-deported” or were turned back at the border by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
George W. Bush deported about 2 million people.
Deportations May Rise under President Trump
Donald Trump promised to deport as many as 2-3 million undocumented immigrants with criminal records. It would represent one of the biggest round-ups in U.S. history.
Before the election, he floated the removal of as many as 11 million illegal immigrants.
If you have a concern about any aspect of immigration in Texas or are facing deportation, we can help. Call our Austin cancellation of removal lawyers today at (512) 399-2311.