Fact check: How many illegal immigrants have actually been deported since the new Trump administration came to power on January 20, 2025 and to which country were they deported

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, the Trump administration has conducted significant deportation operations since taking office on January 20, 2025. More than 1,000 individuals were deported or repatriated by January 23rd, just three days after inauguration ^[1]. The Department of Defense announced plans to use military aircraft to deport over 5,000 migrants already detained by Border Patrol in San Diego and El Paso, Texas ^[1].

In the first 100 days of Trump's second term, ICE arrested 66,463 undocumented immigrants and removed 65,682, with three-quarters having criminal records ^[2]. By 10 weeks after inauguration, the Trump administration had deported more than 100,000 illegal migrants ^[3].

Regarding destination countries, the analyses provide limited specific information. Some deportations went to Colombia, Venezuela, and El Salvador ^[3]. For broader context, Guatemala received 61,680 deportees from the US in 2024 and 55,302 in 2023 ^[4], though these figures predate the current administration.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the scale and methodology of current deportation efforts. The Trump administration has set ambitious goals, including achieving the "single largest Mass Deportation Program in History" ^{[5] [6]} and targeting at least 3,000 arrests per day ^{[7] [6]}.

A significant strategic shift involves targeting Democratic-run cities specifically ^{[8] [7] [6]}, which represents a politically charged approach that benefits Trump's political narrative of confronting opposition strongholds. This targeting strategy suggests the deportation program serves both immigration enforcement and political messaging purposes.

The question also misses the distinction between arrests and actual removals. While 66,463 people were arrested in the first 100 days, 65,682 were actually removed ^[2], indicating that nearly all arrested individuals were successfully deported.

Missing is comprehensive data on destination countries. While some deportations went to specific Latin American countries ^[3], the analyses don't provide a complete breakdown of where all deportees were sent, which would be crucial for understanding the full scope and international implications of the program.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains no apparent misinformation but uses the politically charged term "illegal immigrants" rather than more neutral terminology like "undocumented immigrants" used in some sources ^[2]. This language choice reflects a particular political framing that benefits those who support stricter immigration enforcement.

The question's framing as a straightforward factual inquiry obscures the highly politicized nature of these deportation operations, particularly the strategic targeting of Democratic cities ^{[5] [7] [6]}. This political dimension is crucial context that the neutral phrasing of the question doesn't acknowledge.

The timing of the question is also significant - asking about deportation numbers serves to either validate or criticize the administration's immigration policies, depending on one's political perspective. Supporters benefit from highlighting high deportation numbers as evidence of effective enforcement, while critics might use the same data to argue about humanitarian concerns or political weaponization of immigration policy.