Fact check: How many US citizens have been deported by ICE in error?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, the most concrete data indicates that between 2015 and 2020, ICE deported 70 potential US citizens in error ^[1]. This figure comes from a Government Accountability Office report that also found 674 potential US citizens were arrested, 121 were detained, and 70 were ultimately deported during this five-year period ^[1].

However, the true number may be significantly higher due to inadequate record-keeping ^[1]. The analyses reveal several specific cases of wrongful detention and deportation, including:

• Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez and Jose Hermosillo, two US citizens who were detained by ICE ^[2]
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador ^[2]
• Multiple cases described as part of wrongful detention during immigration enforcement operations ^[2]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements revealed in the analyses:

• Government agencies actively dispute some deportation claims. The Department of Homeland Security has specifically denied certain high-profile cases, stating that reports of a "media's Allentown Grandfather" being deported were false and calling such claims a "hoax" ^[3].
• Some cases involve voluntary accompaniment rather than deportation. DHS sources indicate that in certain instances, US citizen children accompanied their deported parents voluntarily, rather than being deported themselves ^[4].
• Systemic issues extend beyond individual cases. A class action lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration arrested and deported thousands of people without due process, potentially affecting people who appeared for scheduled immigration court hearings ^[5].
• The timeframe matters significantly. The most reliable data covers only 2015-2020, meaning more recent deportations under different administrations are not captured in these figures.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral but may inadvertently promote certain narratives:

• Immigration advocacy organizations such as the American Immigration Council and immigrant justice groups benefit from highlighting higher numbers of wrongful deportations to support their mission of protecting immigrant rights ^{[1] [5]}.
• Government agencies like DHS and ICE benefit from minimizing these numbers or disputing specific cases to maintain public confidence in their enforcement operations ^{[4] [3]}.
• The question assumes systematic errors exist without acknowledging that some reported cases have been disputed or debunked by official sources, potentially amplifying unverified claims.
• Media coverage may sensationalize individual cases without providing comprehensive statistical context, as suggested by the government's pushback against specific media reports ^[3].

The framing of the question as "how many" implies there is a definitive answer, when the analyses reveal significant gaps in data collection and conflicting accounts between advocacy groups and government agencies.