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How many people did Joe Biden Deport..???
Executive summary
Official U.S. government and news reports show large numbers of people returned or removed during Joe Biden’s presidency — for example, ICE reported 271,484 deportations in fiscal year (FY) 2024 and multiple outlets note annual totals in the 200–300k range; broader counts that combine returns, expulsions and removals put Biden-era “repatriations” in the millions (nearly 4.4–4.7 million in some analyses) [1] [2] [3]. Available sources do not give a single undisputed tally labeled “how many people did Joe Biden deport” because different agencies and outlets count different categories (removals, returns, expulsions, Title 42 actions) and report by fiscal year versus whole presidency [4] [2].
1. Deportations, removals and returns: three different measures
Journalistic and policy coverage repeatedly warns that “deportation” can mean distinct things: ICE’s removals (formal deportations) are one metric, while border returns and expulsions (including Title 42-era expulsions) are counted differently and often swell the overall numbers; analyses that combine these categories produce much larger totals than ICE removals alone [4] [2].
2. What the ICE FY2024 number shows: 271,484 removals
ICE’s own FY2024 report and multiple news outlets cite 271,484 non‑citizens removed to 192 countries during FY2024 — a figure described as the highest annual total in a decade and widely reported as a key recent datapoint for the Biden administration’s enforcement record [1] [5].
3. Broader “repatriation” tallies put Biden’s presidency in the millions
Migration Policy Institute and several outlets count “repatriations” — a combination of deportations, expulsions and returns to countries of origin or third countries — and report nearly 4.4 million repatriations under Biden [2]. Other summaries put the cumulative Biden-era repatriations higher (about 4.7 million in one compilation cited by The Independent), underscoring differences in inclusion criteria [3].
4. Year-to-year comparisons are sensitive to policy changes (Title 42, parole programs, etc.)
Observers note that spikes or declines often reflect temporary authorities and policies: Title 42 expulsions, pandemic-era measures and special parole programs materially affected totals, making direct comparisons across administrations misleading unless you align which categories you include [4] [3].
5. Reporting conflicts: different outlets emphasize different narratives
The Guardian and BBC highlighted that FY2024 removals were at a decade high and in some cases higher than Trump-era years [5] [6]. By contrast, advocacy and policy groups such as the Center for Immigration Studies argue deportations fell under Biden when measured certain ways and that conflating returns with removals misleads readers [7]. This illustrates competing perspectives driven by different definitions and political aims [7] [5].
6. Why the variation matters for public debate and policy
Counting returns and expulsions together can make enforcement appear more aggressive; counting only interior removals gives a narrower picture focused on formal deportation proceedings. Policymakers and advocates choose the metric that best supports their claims — for example, those arguing Biden was lax focus on fewer interior removals, while critics pointing to large border returns emphasize the larger repatriation totals [2] [3] [7].
7. What reputable trackers and fact‑checks recommend
Fact‑checking outlets and analysts encourage separating metrics (removals vs. returns vs. expulsions) and reporting by fiscal year, because mixing categories or timeframes (e.g., counting FY totals vs. entire presidencies) leads to contradictory conclusions. PolitiFact and migration analysts note that including Title 42 expulsions substantially changes the headline numbers [4] [2].
8. Bottom line for the question “How many people did Joe Biden deport?”
There is no single, uncontested number in the sources provided. If you mean ICE removals in the most recent full fiscal year cited, FY2024 shows 271,484 removals [1] [5]. If you mean all returns, expulsions and removals combined across his presidency, some analyses put total repatriations in the multi‑millions (roughly 4.4–4.7 million) — but those totals depend on including border returns and administrative expulsions rather than just formal deportations [2] [3].
Limitations and next steps: available sources do not provide a single definitive presidential‑term total labeled simply “deportations” because of definitional differences and varying timeframes [4] [2]. If you want a precise answer for one definition (e.g., ICE removals during Biden’s whole presidency, or total repatriations combining returns and expulsions), tell me which measure you prefer and I will extract the corresponding numbers and cite the specific sources [1] [2].