Fact check: How many illegals were deported by clinton

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the Clinton administration deported approximately 12-12.3 million people during his presidency ^{[1] [2]}. However, this figure requires significant clarification regarding the types of removals included.

The vast majority of these deportations - approximately 11.4 million or 93% - were classified as "returns," where immigrants chose to leave the U.S. at the border without formal proceedings or due process hearings ^{[2] [3]}. This means only a small fraction involved formal deportation proceedings.

For criminal deportations specifically, the data shows 37,000 criminal aliens were deported in 1993 and 22,000 in 1994 ^[4]. By fiscal year 1995, 67,094 illegal immigrants (both criminal and non-criminal) had been formally deported, which was considered a record at the time ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question uses the term "illegals," which lacks the important distinction between different types of removals that significantly affects the interpretation of deportation statistics. The analyses reveal that Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which established expedited removal procedures ^{[3] [6]}.

Key missing context includes:

• The difference between "returns" (voluntary departures at the border) and formal deportations through legal proceedings
• The legislative framework Clinton established that would affect future deportation policies
• Comparative context: One source notes that Trump actually "deported fewer people than Obama, Clinton or Bush, but more indiscriminately" ^[1]
• The policy implications and long-term effects of Clinton's immigration enforcement approach on migration patterns ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The term "illegals" in the original question reflects potentially biased language that dehumanizes immigrants. More significantly, one source explicitly rates as "false" the claim that Clinton deported 12 million people without due process ^[3], indicating that raw deportation numbers can be misleading without proper context about the types of removals involved.

The question's framing suggests interest in total removal numbers without acknowledging the crucial distinction between voluntary returns at the border and formal deportations through legal proceedings. This omission could lead to misinterpretation of Clinton's actual deportation policies and their comparison to other administrations.