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Fact check: How many deportations occurred in 2024 under the Biden administration?
1. Summary of the results
Based on the available analyses, the Biden administration's deportation numbers for 2024 show significant variation depending on the measurement method and data source. The most specific figure comes from one source indicating that the Biden administration deported nearly 700,000 people in fiscal year 2024, with the majority being those turned around upon arrival at the southern border [1].
More detailed data reveals that daily removals under the Biden administration in FY 2024 averaged 742 removals per day, resulting in a total of 271,484 removals for the year [2]. Additionally, from February to April 2024, the Biden administration deported 12,660 immigrants on average during this three-month period [3].
The analyses also provide broader context, showing that the Biden administration conducted 1.1 million deportations from the beginning of fiscal year 2021 through February 2024, with a total of nearly 4.4 million repatriations [4].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original question lacks important contextual information about how deportation statistics are measured and categorized. The data shows that different sources use varying methodologies - some focus on "removals" while others include "returns" and repatriations [1] [2]. This distinction is crucial because it significantly affects the total numbers reported.
The analyses reveal that the majority of the 700,000 deportations were people "turned around upon arrival at the southern border" [1], which represents a different category of enforcement action than traditional interior deportations. This context is missing from the simple numerical question.
Furthermore, the Biden administration's deportation record is being compared to previous administrations, with sources indicating the administration is "on track to carry out as many removals and returns as the Trump administration did" [4]. This comparative context helps frame the 2024 numbers within historical trends.
The analyses also highlight that tens of thousands of children have been ordered deported, most without legal representation [5], adding a humanitarian dimension often absent from purely statistical discussions.
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question, while straightforward, could potentially be misleading by seeking a single definitive number when the data shows that deportation statistics are complex and measured differently by various agencies and sources [2] [1]. The question doesn't acknowledge that different methodologies yield vastly different numbers - from 271,484 to nearly 700,000 depending on what categories are included.
The framing of the question may also reflect political motivations, as deportation numbers are frequently used by both supporters and critics of immigration policies to advance their respective narratives. Those seeking to criticize Biden's immigration policies would benefit from higher deportation numbers to argue for harsh enforcement, while supporters might emphasize the humanitarian aspects or compare favorably to previous administrations.
The absence of methodological clarity in the question could allow for selective use of statistics - political actors could choose whichever number (271,484 or 700,000) best supports their argument without acknowledging the different measurement criteria involved.