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Fact check: How many illegal immigrants did Clinton deport during his presidency
Checked on June 14, 2025
1. Summary of the results
The exact number of deportations during Clinton's presidency varies slightly between sources, but falls within a similar range:
- Approximately 10.87 million total deportations (870,000 removals + 10,000,905 returns) [1]
- Around 12 million total deportations including both formal removals and voluntary returns [2]
- More precisely, 827,100 official removals and 11.4 million returns during fiscal years 1993-2000 [3]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:
- The distinction between "removals" and "returns" is critical - the vast majority of cases were voluntary returns at the U.S.-Mexico border, not formal deportations [2]
- A landmark policy change occurred during Clinton's presidency: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996, which:
- Expanded grounds for deportation [4]
- Created expedited removal processes [4]
- Transformed deportation from a rare occurrence to a common practice [5]
- The impact of this law extended well beyond Clinton's presidency, leading to increased deportations during subsequent administrations, reaching 400,000 per year under Obama [5]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The question itself could lead to misunderstandings because:
- It doesn't acknowledge the significant difference between formal removals and voluntary returns, which could lead to inflated numbers being cited
- Simply asking for a number without context ignores the major policy shifts that occurred during this period
- Different political groups might benefit from different interpretations:
- Immigration hardliners might focus on the total numbers to demonstrate tough enforcement
- Immigration advocates might emphasize the distinction between voluntary returns and formal deportations
- Both sides might use the 1996 IIRIRA's impact to either praise or criticize Clinton's immigration policies
Want to dive deeper?
How do Clinton's deportation numbers compare to other presidents?
What immigration policies did Bill Clinton implement during his presidency?
How many people were deported under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996?
What was the difference between removals and returns during Clinton's presidency?
How did Clinton's immigration enforcement compare to Bush and Obama administrations?