Fact check: How many illegal immigrants did Clinton and Obama deport?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there are conflicting figures regarding deportations under Clinton and Obama administrations:

Obama Administration:

• 3 million noncitizens were formally removed over two terms, making Obama the president with the highest number of deportations in American history ^[1]
• However, another source reports 5 million deportations during Obama's presidency ^[2]
• In 2013 alone, over 400,000 people were deported, with almost half through expedited removal ^[3]
• 85% of all removals and returns in FY 2016 were of noncitizens who had recently crossed the border unlawfully ^[4]

Clinton Administration:

• One source states Clinton expelled about 2 million people during his presidency ^[1]
• Another source reports 12 million deportations during Clinton's administration ^[2]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements:

• Methodology differences: The Obama administration focused on formal removals rather than returns, which affects how deportation numbers are calculated and compared across administrations ^[4]
• Target priorities: Obama's deportation strategy specifically targeted recent border crossers and criminals, representing a shift in enforcement priorities rather than just raw numbers ^[4]
• Historical comparison: The analyses reveal that Trump's administration conducted only 1.5 million deportations, significantly fewer than both Clinton and Obama ^[2]
• Policy evolution: The immigration enforcement landscape changed significantly between administrations, with different legal frameworks and priorities affecting deportation practices ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral but omits critical context that could lead to misinterpretation:

• Conflicting data sources: The significant discrepancy between reported numbers (2 million vs 12 million for Clinton, 3 million vs 5 million for Obama) suggests different counting methodologies or definitions of "deportation" ^{[1] [2]}
• Lack of definitional clarity: The question doesn't distinguish between formal removals, returns, and expedited removals, which are counted differently and represent different enforcement approaches ^{[3] [4]}
• Missing comparative context: Without mentioning other presidents' records, the question could be used to support various political narratives about immigration enforcement effectiveness ^[2]

The question's framing as "illegal immigrants" rather than "undocumented immigrants" or "noncitizens" may also reflect a particular political perspective, though this terminology appears in some of the source analyses as well.