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How many people were deported under the biden adminstrations
Executive summary
Available reporting shows the Biden administration’s enforcement produced millions of repatriations (returns, expulsions and removals) — roughly 4.4–4.7 million by late 2024/early 2025 — while ICE removals alone reached about 271,484 in fiscal year (FY) 2024 [1] [2] [3]. Context and counting methods matter: figures labeled “deportations,” “removals,” “returns,” or “expulsions” are not interchangeable and different outlets and agencies use different mixes of those categories [1] [2].
1. How many people were “deported” — headline totals and what they include
Several outlets report multi-million totals for the Biden era: Migration Policy and others count nearly 4.4 million “repatriations” when combining deportations, expulsions and other actions to prevent entry — a figure framed as larger than any single presidential term since George W. Bush’s second term [1]. The Independent and other outlets cite about 4.6–4.7 million total “repatriations” during Biden’s term but note important caveats about composition [2]. Those large totals rely heavily on border expulsions (including Title 42-era actions and returns to Mexico), not just formal ICE removals [1] [2].
2. ICE removals vs. returns/expulsions — apples vs. oranges
ICE’s annual enforcement report shows ICE removed 271,484 noncitizens to 192 countries in FY2024 — a decade-high for ICE removals specifically [3]. But many media tallies that say “millions deported” combine that ICE removals line with CBP returns, Title 42 expulsions, and other administrative returns at the border; Migration Policy highlights that the Biden-era approach shifted enforcement to the border and produced nearly 4.4 million repatriations [1]. The Independent similarly distinguishes “removals” (formal deportation orders) from broader “repatriations” totals [2].
3. Why the totals rose: border encounters, policy tools, and foreign cooperation
Reporting ties the higher repatriation totals to record irregular arrivals and use of tools such as Title 42 (when in effect), expedited “returns,” and diplomatic work persuading countries to accept nationals back — all factors that made large-scale returns at the border feasible [1] [3]. Migration Policy warns Title 42’s high repatriation numbers required Mexico’s cooperation and did not reduce unauthorized immigration durably [1]. BBC and other outlets likewise link diplomatic pressure and changes in asylum policy to shifts in detention and release practices [4].
4. Trends within the totals: interior removals fell even as border returns rose
Analysts note a sharp drop in interior ICE removals and an emphasis on targeted interior enforcement (e.g., criminal cases), while border-focused measures generated much larger counts of returns and expulsions [1]. The Guardian and other outlets report ICE arrests inside the U.S. fell even as total deportation-related actions rose, reflecting that enforcement activity shifted toward migrants encountered at the border [5].
5. Comparisons to Trump and Obama: disputed but measurable differences
Multiple outlets say Biden-era repatriations exceeded Trump-era totals in several respects: BBC, The Guardian and others noted Biden’s numbers surpassed those in Trump years for certain measures, especially in FY2023–24 [5] [4]. The Independent and Anadolu argue Biden oversaw more repatriations across his term than Trump’s first term, while cautioning that counting rules differ and that formal removals under Biden were lower than Trump’s in some categories [2] [6]. TRAC and other analysts point out the importance of daily- or per-period rate comparisons and warn that administration claims can be misleading if counting methodologies differ [7] [8].
6. Reporting limitations, caveats and what sources do not cover
Available sources emphasize inconsistent terminology and mixing of categories (removals, returns, expulsions, repatriations), which leads to divergent headline numbers; Migration Policy and The Independent both stress this methodological caveat [1] [2]. Sources do not provide a single undisputed cumulative “deportation” number broken down line-by-line for every fiscal year through the end of Biden’s term; instead, they offer combinations [1] [2]. If you need an exact, narrowly defined count (for example, only ICE removals or only formal immigration-court-ordered removals), consult the specific ICE/DHS reports cited by these outlets — ICE’s FY2024 report gives the 271,484 removals figure [3].
7. Bottom line for readers
If by “deported” you mean all repatriations, expulsions and returns at the border and removals combined, reporting places the Biden-era total in the multiple millions (roughly 4.4–4.7 million as reported by Migration Policy, The Independent and allied outlets) [1] [2]. If you mean ICE removals alone, FY2024 saw about 271,484 removals — an ICE-specific, decade-high figure [3]. These are both factual statements in the sources, but they are answering different questions — which explains why headlines can seem to conflict [1] [2] [3].