Fact check: How many legal immigrants did Obama deport

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a significant gap in available data regarding the specific question asked. While multiple sources provide extensive information about total deportations during the Obama administration, none of the sources examined provide specific data on how many legal immigrants were deported.

The sources consistently report on overall deportation numbers:

• ICE achieved more than 392,000 removals in fiscal year 2010 alone ^[1]
• Total deportations peaked at 409,849 in fiscal 2012 ^[2]
• Various sources cite between 2 million to over 3 million total deportations during Obama's eight-year presidency ^{[3] [4] [5]}

However, these figures specifically refer to undocumented immigrants and those without legal status, not legal immigrants who were deported ^{[5] [6]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes that legal immigrants were deported in significant numbers during the Obama administration, but the analyses suggest this may not accurately reflect the administration's deportation priorities. Several critical pieces of context are missing:

• Deportation priorities focused on specific categories: The Obama administration prioritized deporting noncitizens with criminal records and recent unauthorized border crossers ^[6]
• Due process concerns: 75% of people removed did not see a judge before being expelled, with the administration prioritizing speed over fairness ^[7]
• Comparative context: While Obama's administration had high deportation numbers, there were actually fewer removals than the two prior administrations when accounting for reduced border apprehensions ^[6]
• Policy distinctions: The administration implemented programs like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) that protected certain categories of immigrants ^[8]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a potentially misleading premise by specifically asking about "legal immigrants" being deported. The analyses suggest this framing may be problematic because:

• Conflation of categories: The question implies that legal immigrants were a significant portion of Obama-era deportations, but the sources indicate deportations primarily targeted undocumented immigrants ^{[5] [6]}
• Lack of supporting data: Despite extensive documentation of Obama's deportation record, none of the sources provide evidence that legal immigrants were deported in meaningful numbers
• Inflammatory framing: The question may perpetuate narratives that benefit those seeking to criticize immigration enforcement without acknowledging the distinction between legal and undocumented status

The absence of data on legal immigrant deportations in comprehensive analyses of Obama's immigration record suggests this may not have been a significant aspect of the administration's enforcement actions.