Fact check: What were the deportation numbers under Clinton vs Obama administrations?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal conflicting data regarding deportation numbers under the Clinton and Obama administrations, highlighting significant discrepancies in how deportations are measured and reported.

Total deportation numbers show contradictory findings:

• One source reports that Clinton had 12 million deportations while Obama had 5 million ^[1]
• However, another source indicates that Obama removed more people than any other president, with over 2.5 million removed through immigration orders between 2009-2015 alone ^[2]
• Obama's total ICE deportations exceeded 3.1 million throughout his eight years in office ^[3]

Deportation rates as percentage of estimated illegal immigrant population:

• Clinton removed an average of 1.86% per year of the estimated illegal immigrant population ^[4]
• Obama removed an average of 3.33% per year, suggesting a higher deportation rate despite potentially lower absolute numbers ^[4]

Historical context from Clinton era:

• The Clinton administration deported 37,000 criminal aliens in 1993 and 22,000 in 1994 ^[5]
• Clinton's administration proposed steps to speed up deportation of aliens convicted of crimes ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about how deportations are defined and measured. The conflicting numbers suggest different methodologies are being used across sources.

Key missing context includes:

• Distinction between "removals" and "returns" - these are different categories of deportation that significantly affect total numbers ^[6]
• Time period variations - some sources focus on specific years while others cover entire presidencies
• Changes in immigration enforcement priorities between administrations
• Population size differences - the estimated illegal immigrant population likely changed between the Clinton and Obama eras, affecting percentage-based comparisons

Alternative viewpoints on enforcement effectiveness:

• Pro-enforcement advocates would benefit from emphasizing Obama's higher deportation rates as percentage of population, suggesting more effective enforcement
• Immigration rights organizations might highlight Clinton's higher absolute numbers to argue against characterizing any administration as particularly lenient
• Political operatives from both parties could selectively cite whichever statistic supports their narrative about immigration enforcement

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual, simply requesting comparative data. However, the conflicting information in the analyses reveals potential issues with how deportation statistics are reported and interpreted.

Potential sources of bias in the data:

• Methodological inconsistencies between sources measuring deportations differently
• Selective time period reporting that may not capture complete presidential terms
• Political motivations behind emphasizing certain statistics over others
• Lack of standardized definitions for what constitutes a "deportation"

The 12 million vs. 5 million comparison ^[1] appears particularly questionable given that other sources report Obama's deportations in the millions range but significantly lower than 5 million total. This suggests either different measurement criteria or potential data errors in some analyses.

The question would benefit from clarification of specific metrics (removals vs. returns, specific time periods, and whether voluntary departures are included) to provide a more accurate comparison.