Fact check: How did Obama and Trump define and count deportations differently?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal significant differences in how the Obama and Trump administrations approached deportation definitions and counting methods:

Obama's Approach:

• Focused on formal deportation proceedings through ICE, with a two-pronged strategy that increased penalties for unauthorized crossings and deputized local law enforcement to target immigrants with criminal records ^[1]
• Prioritized specific categories: national security threats, serious crimes, and recent border crossers, requiring supervisory review and emphasizing prosecutorial discretion ^[2]
• Achieved record numbers: Obama's administration logged more than 3.1 million ICE deportations, peaking at over 407,000 people removed in fiscal year 2012, with a monthly average of 36,000 in 2013 ^{[3] [4]}

Trump's Approach:

• Broadened targeting criteria to include any unauthorized persons for removal, including those merely charged with or believed to have committed crimes, not just convicted criminals ^[2]
• Gave individual enforcement officers broad discretionary authority to apprehend and detain any immigrant believed to be in violation of immigration law, removing the supervisory review requirement ^[2]
• Struggled with lower numbers: Trump's administration averaged only 14,700 deportations per month, with a maximum of 269,000 people deported in 2019 during his first term ^{[3] [4]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual factors missing from the original question:

Statistical Distinctions:

• The analyses mention a crucial distinction between 'removals' and 'returns' in deportation statistics, though the specific differences aren't fully explained ^[5]
• Arrest vs. deportation discrepancy: Under Trump, ICE agents arrested roughly 30,000 immigrants in one month but deported only about half that number due to pending asylum cases or court orders blocking deportations ^[3]

Operational Challenges:

• Trump faced different border conditions with significantly fewer people crossing the border compared to Obama's era, making it difficult to replicate Obama's deportation strategy ^[1]
• Opposition to enforcement programs: Trump encountered resistance to reviving the Secure Communities program that had been effective under Obama ^[1]

Policy Effectiveness:

• Obama's targeted approach was described as more effective, focusing on criminals and recent arrivals, while Trump's broader approach led to a higher percentage of non-criminals being detained by ICE ^[6]
• Fast-tracking attempts: Trump's administration sought to expedite deportations of those with pending asylum cases to increase numbers ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral and factual, seeking clarification on definitional and counting differences between the two administrations. However, the analyses suggest potential areas where public discourse might be misleading:

Numerical Comparisons Without Context:

• Simple numerical comparisons between the administrations can be misleading without considering the different border conditions and available enforcement mechanisms each president faced ^[1]
• The distinction between arrests and actual deportations is crucial but often overlooked in public discussions ^[3]

Policy Characterization:

• The analyses suggest that characterizing Trump's approach as more aggressive may be misleading, as Obama actually achieved higher deportation numbers through more targeted and effective strategies ^{[3] [4]}
• Trump's broader targeting criteria might create an impression of increased enforcement while actually resulting in lower overall deportation numbers due to legal challenges and processing delays ^{[2] [3]}

The question itself doesn't contain apparent misinformation but highlights the complexity of comparing immigration enforcement across different administrations without proper contextual understanding of their respective definitions, priorities, and operational environments.