How many illegal immigrants were returned to their home countries under Biden's watch in 2023?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, the Biden administration conducted 142,580 removals to more than 170 countries worldwide in Fiscal Year 2023 according to ICE's official annual report ^[1]. This figure represents formal removals carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations division, providing the most concrete answer to the original question about returns under Biden's watch in 2023.

However, the deportation landscape extends beyond just ICE removals. The analyses reveal that more than 271,000 immigrants were deported from the US over the last fiscal year, surpassing the record of Donald Trump's first term in office ^[2]. This broader figure suggests that total deportations under Biden exceeded the specific ICE removal numbers, indicating multiple agencies and mechanisms were involved in returning individuals to their home countries.

The data shows a significant escalation in enforcement activities. From the beginning of fiscal year 2021 through February 2024, the Biden administration carried out 1.1 million deportations ^[3], demonstrating sustained enforcement efforts throughout his presidency. More comprehensively, approximately 1.5 million removals and enforcement returns were carried out from FY 2021 to FY 2024, with most originating from the border ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the complexity of immigration enforcement statistics. The analyses reveal that deportation figures can vary significantly depending on how they're measured and which agencies are included. While ICE reported 142,580 formal removals in 2023 ^[1], the broader deportation figure of over 271,000 ^[2] suggests that border enforcement returns and other mechanisms substantially increase the total number of people returned to their home countries.

A critical missing perspective is the comparative analysis with previous administrations. The analyses indicate that the Biden administration is on track to carry out as many removals and returns as the Trump administration did ^[3], challenging common political narratives about enforcement differences between the two presidencies. This comparison reveals that Biden's deportation numbers surpassed Trump's 2019 record ^[2], contradicting assumptions about reduced enforcement under Democratic leadership.

The question also omits important context about the unauthorized immigrant population growth. One analysis references that the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population reached a record 14 million in 2023 ^[5], suggesting that despite high deportation numbers, the overall undocumented population continued to grow, indicating that arrivals exceeded removals.

Another missing element is the geographic scope and diversity of enforcement actions. The fact that removals occurred to more than 170 countries worldwide ^[1] demonstrates the global reach of U.S. immigration enforcement, extending far beyond commonly discussed regions like Central America and Mexico.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while seemingly straightforward, contains subtle framing that could lead to biased interpretations. The phrase "illegal immigrants" reflects politically charged language that may influence how readers perceive the information, as immigration advocates typically prefer terms like "undocumented" or "unauthorized" immigrants.

The question's focus solely on 2023 numbers without broader context could be misleading, as it doesn't account for multi-year trends or comparative analysis with other administrations. This narrow timeframe might serve political agendas seeking to either criticize or defend Biden's immigration policies without providing the full picture.

The framing also potentially obscures the complexity of immigration enforcement. By asking only about returns to "home countries," the question doesn't distinguish between formal removals, voluntary returns, border enforcement actions, and other categories of departures. This oversimplification could lead to misunderstanding about the various mechanisms through which people leave the United States.

Furthermore, the question doesn't acknowledge that most deportations originated from the border ^[4], which represents a different enforcement dynamic than interior removals of long-term residents. This distinction is crucial for understanding the nature and impact of enforcement actions but is completely absent from the original inquiry.

The timing and context of such questions often serve political purposes, particularly when they can be used to either attack or defend an administration's immigration record without providing the nuanced analysis necessary for informed public discourse.