Fact check: Did the Obama administration prioritize deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records over those without?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided present conflicting views on whether the Obama administration prioritized deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records over those without. According to ^[1], the Obama administration did prioritize the deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal records, as evidenced by the fact that 90 percent of interior removals in 2016 were of noncitizens convicted of serious crimes ^[1]. Similarly, ^[2] supports this claim, stating that the Obama administration's deportation priorities focused on national security threats, immigrants convicted of serious crimes, and recent border crossers ^[2]. However, ^[3] suggests that the Obama administration did not prioritize deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records over those without, as more than half of the 779,000 people deported had no criminal record ^[3]. On the other hand, ^[1] indicates that the Obama administration did prioritize deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, with 85% of removals and returns in FY 2016 being of noncitizens who had recently crossed the border unlawfully, and more than 90% of interior removals being of noncitizens convicted of serious crimes ^[1]. Key points to consider include the percentage of deportees with criminal records, the administration's stated priorities, and the actual enforcement practices.

• The percentage of deportees with criminal records varies across sources, with some indicating a high percentage ^[1] and others suggesting a lower percentage ^[3].
• The Obama administration's stated priorities, as outlined in the 2014 memo, focused on national security threats, immigrants convicted of serious crimes, and recent border crossers ^[2].
• Actual enforcement practices, including the emphasis on speed over fairness in the removal system, may have led to a lack of individualized due process for many deportees ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources do not provide direct information about the Obama administration's priorities for deporting undocumented immigrants, instead discussing the Trump administration's efforts and progress in immigration enforcement ^{[5] [6] [7]}. Additionally, the sources that do address the Obama administration's priorities often present conflicting views, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of the administration's policies and practices. Alternative viewpoints to consider include:

• The Trump administration's promises and progress in deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, which may be useful for comparative analysis ^[6].
• The broader context of immigration enforcement policies, including the fact that most ICE detainees have no criminal record ^[7].
• The comparison of the Obama, Trump, and Biden administration immigration enforcement priorities, which suggests that the Obama administration prioritized threats to national security, public safety, and recent entrants ^[8].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be subject to potential misinformation or bias, as it presents a simplistic view of the Obama administration's deportation priorities. Sources that may benefit from this framing include:

• Those who support a more restrictive immigration policy, who may use the statement to argue that the Obama administration was effective in deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records ^[1].
• Those who oppose a more restrictive immigration policy, who may use the statement to argue that the Obama administration's priorities were misguided or ineffective ^[3].
• The Obama administration itself, which may have benefited from the perception that it was prioritizing the deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal records ^[2]. However, it is essential to consider the potential biases and limitations of each source, as well as the complexity of the issue, to form a comprehensive understanding of the Obama administration's deportation priorities ^{[4] [8]}.