Fact check: What was the total number of deportations under the Obama administration?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the Obama administration's deportation record shows more than 3.1 million ICE deportations throughout eight years in office ^[1]. Multiple sources confirm 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 according to Department of Homeland Security data ^[2].

The deportation numbers varied significantly by year, with the peak occurring in fiscal year 2012 when more than 407,000 people were removed ^[1], with another source citing 409,849 total deportations in fiscal 2012 ^[3]. By fiscal 2015, deportations had decreased to 235,413 ^[3]. One analysis indicates that between 2009 and 2015, the Obama administration removed more than 2.5 million people through immigration orders ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about how deportation statistics are calculated and categorized. The analyses reveal that the Obama administration focused on formal removals instead of returns, with formal removals under Obama far outpacing those of the Bush and Clinton administrations ^[5].

However, when examining total removals and returns combined, more than 5 million people were removed or returned during the Obama administration, which is fewer than the number of people removed or returned during the Bush and Clinton administrations ^[6]. This distinction between "formal removals" and total "removals and returns" significantly affects how the Obama administration's record is interpreted.

The Obama administration implemented immigration enforcement priorities that focused on threats to national security, public safety, and recent entrants ^[7], which influenced both the numbers and the types of deportations carried out.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual, simply asking for deportation numbers. However, the question could be misleading if used without proper context, as it doesn't distinguish between different types of deportation measures or acknowledge the complexity of immigration enforcement statistics.

Political actors from both parties could benefit from selectively citing these statistics: immigration restrictionists might emphasize the 3+ million formal removals to argue that even Democratic administrations can be tough on immigration, while immigration advocates might point to the lower combined removal and return numbers compared to previous Republican administrations to argue for more humane policies. The framing of these statistics serves different political narratives depending on which measurement is emphasized.