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Fact check: How many illegal immigrants to clint, obama, biden and trump deport

Checked on June 16, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, here are the deportation numbers for each president mentioned:

Bill Clinton: The data shows conflicting figures - one source reports 12.3 million deportations during his administration [1], while another more comprehensive source indicates 11.4 million deportations with 93% being returns [2]. A third source shows only 67,094 deportations in fiscal year 1995 alone [3], highlighting the difference between annual and total administration figures.

Barack Obama: Sources indicate Obama deported between 3-5.3 million people during his two terms. One analysis states 5.3 million deportations with a focus on removing criminals and prioritizing national security threats [1], while another reports 3 million noncitizens removed, more than any other president in American history [4]. The Obama administration was notably labeled as the "deporter in chief" and set a single-year record of 438,421 deportations in 2013 [5].

Joe Biden: The analyses show 4-4.4 million repatriations under Biden's administration [1] [2]. Notably, US immigration authorities deported more than 271,000 immigrants in the last fiscal year, surpassing Trump's 2019 record [6]. The Biden administration may earn the title of "returner in chief" as most deportations have been returns rather than formal removals [2].

Donald Trump: Trump had the lowest deportation numbers among all mentioned presidents at 2.107 million total - 1.9 million in his first term plus 207,000 in his current year [1]. However, Biden's deportation numbers are on track to match the 1.5 million deportations carried out during Trump's four years [2].

George W. Bush: Bush's administration carried out 10.3 million deportations, with 81% being returns [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements:

  • Methodology differences: The analyses reveal significant distinctions between "returns" (voluntary departures) and "removals" (formal deportation orders) [2]. Clinton and Bush administrations had much higher percentages of returns compared to formal removals.
  • Policy focus variations: Obama's approach focused on removing criminals and prioritizing national security threats, border security, and public safety [1], while Biden's administration has been focusing on deporting recent arrivals similar to Clinton and Bush approaches [2].
  • Time period considerations: The question doesn't specify whether it's asking about total administration numbers, annual averages, or specific time periods, which creates confusion when comparing single-year records versus total administration figures.
  • Current policy changes: Recent developments show that immigrants from Biden-era parole programs for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have begun receiving notices of termination [7], indicating ongoing policy shifts.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several problematic elements:

  • Loaded terminology: The use of "illegal immigrants" rather than more neutral terms like "undocumented immigrants" or "noncitizens" reflects a particular political framing that may bias responses.
  • Incomplete president list: The question omits George W. Bush, who had 10.3 million deportations [2], creating an incomplete picture of presidential deportation records.
  • Oversimplification: The question fails to acknowledge the complexity of immigration enforcement, including the distinction between different types of removals and the various policy approaches taken by different administrations.
  • Missing recent context: The question doesn't account for Trump's promise to launch the "largest deportation operation in history" [6], which represents a significant policy shift that affects the relevance of historical comparisons.

The framing suggests a desire for simple numerical comparisons without acknowledging the enormous logistical and financial challenges [6] involved in deportation operations or the different enforcement priorities and methodologies used by each administration.

Want to dive deeper?
What were the deportation numbers for each year of the Clinton presidency?
How did the Obama administration's deportation policies differ from Trump's?
What changes has the Biden administration made to deportation procedures?
Which president had the highest number of deportations per year?
How do deportation numbers compare to the total number of illegal immigrants in the US during each administration?