Fact check: How many non-criminals were deported per president?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal significant data about non-criminal deportations, though they focus primarily on the Trump administration period. Nearly half of the 59,000 people detained by ICE had no criminal record ^[1]. More specifically, roughly 8% of all detainees had been convicted of violent crimes, and about 40% of detainees had criminal convictions, meaning approximately 60% were non-criminals ^[1].

The data shows concrete deportation numbers for specific months: ICE deported 11,000 migrants in February, just over 12,300 in the first four weeks of March, and approximately 17,200 in April, with roughly half of those deported in February having no criminal records ^[2]. Additionally, 8,718 of those arrested were non-criminal migrants during the Trump administration's enforcement operations ^[3].

The analyses document a dramatic increase in non-criminal detentions, with the number of detentions of people facing only civil immigration charges rising by over 250% from the first week of May to the first week of June ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question asks for comparative data across multiple presidencies, but the analyses provide data almost exclusively from the Trump administration. The Trump administration's deportations are noted to be lower than those under President Biden ^[3], but specific numbers of non-criminal deportations under Biden or previous presidents are not provided.

The analyses reveal a significant disconnect between the Trump administration's rhetoric on targeting 'criminal aliens' and the reality of who was being detained ^[1]. The administration used tactics such as collateral arrests, self-deportation strategies, and fines to deter undocumented immigrants ^[4], suggesting a broader enforcement strategy beyond targeting criminals.

Immigration enforcement agencies and private detention companies would benefit financially from expanded detention operations, as increased detentions require more facilities and resources. Political figures promoting "tough on immigration" stances would benefit from public support for mass deportation policies, even when the data shows many deportees are non-criminals.

The analyses include personal stories, such as Narciso Barranco, a landscaper with no criminal record who was violently detained by ICE agents ^[4], illustrating the human impact of these policies on long-term residents and workers.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question assumes that comprehensive, comparable data exists for non-criminal deportations across different presidencies, but the analyses show this data is not readily available in a standardized format. The question's framing could lead to incomplete or misleading comparisons without proper context about different enforcement priorities and reporting methods across administrations.

The analyses suggest that the Trump administration used a PR blitz to sell the idea of mass deportations as necessary for public safety, despite many of those being deported having no criminal history ^[3]. This indicates potential bias in how deportation policies are publicly presented versus their actual implementation and targets.

The lack of historical comparative data in the analyses prevents a full assessment of whether current enforcement represents a significant departure from previous administrations' practices regarding non-criminal deportations.