Fact check: How many US citizens have been wrongly deported since 2020?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there is no specific data provided about US citizens wrongly deported since 2020. However, the sources reveal concerning historical patterns that provide important context:

• Between 2015 and 2020, at least 70 potential U.S. citizens were deported, with the true number likely being higher due to incomplete records ^{[1] [2]}
• A separate analysis found that between 2002 and 2017, ICE wrongly flagged at least 2,840 U.S. citizens as potentially deportable ^[2]
• The sources indicate that record-keeping has been incomplete, suggesting the actual numbers of wrongful deportations may be significantly underreported ^[1]

The analyses also highlight ongoing enforcement issues, including class action lawsuits against policies that have resulted in arrests, detention, and deportation of people who appeared for scheduled immigration hearings ^[3], and cases of wrongful arrests under new state laws that federal judges had blocked ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes wrongful deportations of US citizens have occurred since 2020, but the available data does not extend into this timeframe. Several critical pieces of context are missing:

• No government agencies or immigration advocacy organizations appear to have published comprehensive data on US citizen deportations specifically for the 2020-2025 period
• The analyses reveal that ICE's own record-keeping has been inadequate, making it difficult to track the true scope of wrongful deportations ^[1]
• Immigration enforcement policies have evolved significantly since 2020, including the use of Title 42 authority for expulsions ^[5], but the impact on US citizens specifically is not documented in these sources

Government immigration agencies would benefit from downplaying or underreporting wrongful deportations to avoid accountability and maintain public support for enforcement operations. Conversely, immigration advocacy organizations and civil rights groups would benefit from highlighting these cases to build support for policy reforms and legal challenges.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that wrongful deportations of US citizens have definitively occurred since 2020, when the available evidence does not support making such a specific claim about this timeframe. While historical data shows this has been a documented problem ^{[1] [2]}, framing the question as "how many" rather than "whether" wrongful deportations have occurred since 2020 presupposes facts not established in the available sources.

The question may also reflect confirmation bias by seeking to quantify a problem without first establishing whether adequate data collection and reporting mechanisms exist for the specified timeframe. The historical pattern of incomplete record-keeping ^[1] suggests that even if wrongful deportations have occurred since 2020, reliable data may simply not be available or publicly accessible.