Fact check: How do Biden's deportation numbers compare to Trump's deportation statistics?

1. Summary of the results

The comparison between Biden and Trump's deportation numbers requires important context and distinctions:

• When including Title 42 pandemic-era expulsions, Biden's administration has overseen approximately 4.6-4.7 million total repatriations, which is higher than Trump's 2.1 million during his first term ^{[1] [2]}.
• However, when looking specifically at traditional deportations (non-voluntary removal orders that prevent reentry), Biden's numbers are significantly lower:
• Biden: approximately 649,000 deportations ^[2]
• Trump: approximately 1.2 million deportations between 2017-2020 ^[2]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual factors should be considered:

• Historical Perspective: From 1990-2018, Democratic presidents actually deported more people (3.9 million) than Republican presidents (2.7 million) ^[3]
• Daily Averages: According to Witness at the Border, both administrations maintained similar daily deportation rates of around 6 deportations per weekday ^[4]
• Recent Trends: In Trump's second term's first two weeks, about 5,700 immigrants were deported, which would project to roughly half of Biden's last fiscal year numbers if maintained ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question could lead to misleading conclusions without considering:

• Title 42's Impact: Raw deportation numbers can be misleading without separating regular deportations from Title 42 expulsions. This distinction dramatically changes the comparison between the two administrations ^[2]
• Time Period Variations: Different sources use different time periods for comparison, which can affect the numbers:
• Some focus on fiscal years ^[5]
• Others look at specific terms ^[1]
• Some examine specific weeks or months ^[1]

This complexity makes direct comparisons challenging without proper context and consistent measurement periods.