Fact check: How have deportation numbers changed under Joe Biden since 2021?

1. Summary of the results

The deportation numbers under Joe Biden since 2021 show a significant increase compared to previous administrations, with multiple sources confirming record-breaking figures. The Biden administration carried out 1.1 million deportations from fiscal year 2021 through February 2024 and is on track to match Trump administration totals ^{[1] [2]}. More dramatically, US immigration authorities deported over 271,000 immigrants in the last fiscal year alone, representing the largest number in nearly a decade ^[3].

The most striking comparison reveals that the Biden administration oversaw 1.3 million more deportations during its first two years compared to Trump's entire first term ^[4]. Recent data shows Biden's deportation pace exceeded Trump's current efforts, with daily removals averaging 742 under Biden in FY 2024 compared to 661 under the current Trump administration ^[5].

Key tactical shift: The Biden administration fundamentally changed deportation methodology by focusing heavily on "returns" and "administrative returns," where migrants acknowledge unlawful entry but voluntarily depart without formal removal orders. This approach resulted in over 505,000 administrative returns from FY 2021 through February 2024 - more than the previous two administrations combined ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question omits several crucial contextual factors that significantly impact the interpretation of these numbers:

Historical precedent: The Biden administration's approach represents a revival of deportation practices from the Clinton and George W. Bush eras, with 54% of deportations being enforcement returns ^[2]. This historical context shows the current numbers aren't unprecedented but rather a return to earlier methodologies.

Border surge context: The deportation increases occurred following a surge in border crossings, which the Biden administration initially pledged to pause but later expanded due to political pressure ^[3]. This suggests the numbers reflect reactive policy rather than proactive enforcement strategy.

Methodological differences: The focus on recent border arrivals rather than long-term residents represents a significant shift in enforcement priorities ^{[1] [2]}. This targeting strategy affects who gets deported and how quickly.

Political beneficiaries: Immigration hawks and border security advocates benefit from highlighting Biden's high deportation numbers to argue for continued tough enforcement, while immigrant rights groups can use these same numbers to criticize Biden for betraying campaign promises about more humane immigration policies.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral but contains subtle framing that could lead to incomplete understanding:

Temporal framing bias: By asking specifically about changes "since 2021," the question implicitly suggests Biden's numbers should be compared only to his baseline, rather than providing broader historical context about how these numbers compare to Obama-era deportations or longer-term trends ^[6].

Omission of methodology: The question fails to distinguish between different types of deportations (formal removals vs. returns vs. administrative returns), which is crucial since the Biden administration's record is heavily weighted toward returns rather than formal deportations ^[2]. This methodological distinction significantly affects how the numbers should be interpreted.

Missing policy context: The question doesn't acknowledge that Biden initially pledged to pause deportations but later reversed course ^[3], which is essential context for understanding why the numbers increased so dramatically.

Comparative framing: The question doesn't specify comparison points, potentially leading readers to assume Biden's numbers are either uniquely high or low without proper historical benchmarking against Trump, Obama, or earlier administrations ^{[4] [6]}.