Fact check: How many undocumented immigrants without criminal records were deported during Obama's presidency?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal that no source provides a direct answer to the specific question about how many undocumented immigrants without criminal records were deported during Obama's presidency. However, several key data points emerge from the available information:

• The Obama administration deported more than 2 million people according to one analysis ^[1], while another source indicates more than 3.1 million deportations ^[2], and a third mentions more than 5 million people ^[3]
• In 2013 alone, the Obama administration deported a record-breaking 438,421 people, including approximately 198,400 immigrants with criminal records ^[4]
• By 2016, more than 90 percent of interior removals were of noncitizens convicted of serious crimes ^[5], which implies that less than 10 percent were without criminal records
• In FY 2016, 85% of all removals and returns were of noncitizens who had recently crossed the U.S. border unlawfully ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements that the analyses reveal:

• Policy evolution: The Obama administration's approach prioritized deporting people convicted of serious crimes and recent arrivals who had no criminal records ^[3], indicating a strategic shift in enforcement priorities
• Comparison with subsequent administrations: Under the Trump administration, there was a 150 percent spike in arrests of individuals with no criminal records ^[6], suggesting Obama's policies were more targeted toward those with criminal backgrounds
• Economic implications: The analyses mention economic impact of deportations and how they may affect job opportunities for American workers ^[7], which adds a labor market dimension often missing from deportation discussions
• Different counting methodologies: The varying total numbers (2 million vs. 3.1 million vs. 5 million) suggest different agencies or organizations may use different criteria for counting deportations

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factually neutral in its phrasing, implicitly assumes that a significant number of immigrants without criminal records were deported, which the data suggests may not accurately reflect the Obama administration's enforcement priorities. The analyses consistently show that:

• The vast majority of interior removals targeted individuals with serious criminal convictions ^[5]
• The administration's stated policy prioritized criminals and recent border crossers ^[3]

The question's framing could potentially mislead readers into believing that mass deportations of law-abiding undocumented immigrants was a primary feature of Obama's immigration enforcement, when the available data suggests the opposite. This type of framing benefits those who wish to either criticize Obama's immigration policies from the left (by emphasizing any deportations of non-criminals) or defend more aggressive enforcement policies by suggesting precedent for broader deportation efforts.