Fact check: How many people that Obama deported were criminals that had an active record and please provide references

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, the Obama administration's deportation of individuals with criminal records varied significantly by year and how "criminal records" were defined:

• In 2012: Approximately 55% (225,000+ people) of those deported had been convicted of crimes, including drug offenses and driving under the influence ^[1]
• In 2013: About 198,400 immigrants with criminal records were deported, representing approximately 45% of the total 438,421 people deported that year ^[2]
• In 2016: More than 90% of interior removals were of noncitizens convicted of serious crimes, though this specifically refers to interior removals rather than total deportations ^[3]

The total deportation numbers during Obama's presidency exceeded 2 million people ^[4], with 85% of all removals and returns in FY 2016 being individuals who had recently crossed the border unlawfully ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several critical pieces of context are absent from the original question:

• Definition manipulation: An independent analysis revealed that the Obama administration's claimed 80% increase in deportations of criminals was largely driven by including individuals with minor infractions such as immigration or traffic violations, while deportations for serious crimes actually declined ^[5]
• Process concerns: 75% of people facing deportation did not receive a court hearing, instead being subject to nonjudicial removals controlled by the Department of Homeland Security, prioritizing speed over fairness ^[6]
• Statistical methodology: The Obama administration focused on formal removals instead of returns, which created a different statistical picture compared to previous administrations' practices ^[3]
• Civil rights perspective: Organizations like the ACLU characterized Obama's deportation record as "horrifying" and argued it caused significant harm to immigrant communities ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an inherent bias by asking specifically about "criminals that had an active record," which:

• Assumes criminality justifies deportation without acknowledging that many deportees had only minor violations or immigration-related offenses rather than serious criminal convictions
• Fails to distinguish between different types of criminal records, from serious felonies to minor traffic violations, which the data shows were often conflated in official statistics ^[5]
• Ignores the procedural issues where the majority of deportees never received proper court hearings to contest their cases ^[6]
• Overlooks the humanitarian impact on families and communities, focusing solely on the criminal justice framing that benefits those who support aggressive deportation policies

The framing suggests that deportation of individuals with any criminal record is automatically justified, which serves the interests of those advocating for stricter immigration enforcement while potentially misleading the public about the nature and severity of the offenses involved.