Fact check: How many illegal aliens were deported during the obama adminstration

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the Obama administration deported a substantial number of individuals during its eight years in office. The most frequently cited figure is over 3.1 million ICE deportations according to Syracuse's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse ^[1]. However, there are some variations in the reported numbers across sources.

The Department of Homeland Security data indicates that former President Barack Obama formally removed 3 million noncitizens from the U.S. over two terms, more than any other president in American history ^[2]. Another source reports that Obama's administration deported more than 2.4 million people, which is nearly as many as his two predecessors combined ^[3].

The peak year for deportations was fiscal year 2012, when more than 407,000 people were removed ^[1], with some sources citing the specific number as 409,849 total deportations ^[4]. At its height in 2013, the Obama administration deported 36,000 people per month ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the complexity of Obama's deportation record and policy approach. The analyses reveal that the Obama administration focused on formal removals over returns, with a priority on removing noncitizens who had committed crimes or were recent unauthorized border crossers ^[6].

An important comparative context missing from the question is how these numbers relate to other administrations. The analyses show that during the first years of Obama's presidency, the number of immigrants deported from the U.S. increased each year ^[4], and that Obama's deportation numbers far exceeded those of the Trump administration, which averaged only 14,700 deportations per month compared to Obama's peak of 36,000 per month ^[5].

The question also doesn't address the enforcement strategy differences - Obama's administration aggressively enforced current laws ^[3], which contributed to the high deportation numbers.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question uses the term "illegal aliens," which is politically charged language that may reflect bias. This terminology is often used to dehumanize immigrants and frame the discussion in a particular political context.

The question appears neutral on its surface but could be seeking to either criticize Obama's immigration record from the left (highlighting aggressive enforcement) or from the right (potentially to compare unfavorably with other administrations). The framing doesn't acknowledge the nuanced approach of prioritizing certain categories of deportees that characterized Obama's policy ^[6].

Additionally, asking only about raw deportation numbers without context about policy changes, legal frameworks, or comparative analysis with other administrations could lead to misleading conclusions about the effectiveness or appropriateness of immigration enforcement during this period.