Fact check: Will Trump be able to deport as much as Biden

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, Trump is currently deporting fewer people than Biden did during his administration. The evidence shows a clear pattern across multiple time periods:

• Biden's overall record: The Biden administration carried out 1.1 million deportations since FY 2021 and was on track to match or surpass Trump's total numbers ^[1].
• Monthly comparison: Trump deported 37,660 people in his first month, significantly lower than Biden's monthly average of 57,000 removals and returns in his last full year ^[2].
• Current performance: As of March 2025, ICE deported around 11,000 migrants in February, compared to 12,000 deported in February 2024 under Biden ^[3]. Trump's daily removals are averaging 661 compared to Biden's 742, making his immigrant removals 10 percent below Biden's record ^[4].
• Four-month assessment: Over four months, the Trump administration deported around 200,000 people, which lags behind the number of deportations during a similar period under the Biden administration ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual factors that affect deportation capacity and effectiveness:

• Operational constraints: Detention space limits deportation capacity, preventing the Trump administration from sustaining higher removal levels despite increased ICE arrests ^[4].
• Strategic differences: The Biden administration focused its deportation efforts on recent border arrivals and carried out the most administrative returns in at least 15 years ^[1], while the Trump administration targets violent criminals, non-criminals, and people with final deportation orders ^[6].
• Economic and social impact: The Trump administration's enforcement efforts have created a climate of fear among undocumented residents, international students, and even legal permanent residents, which may lead to a decline in immigration and negatively impact the US economy ^[7].
• Future potential: Trump's deportation numbers may rise in coming months with the assistance of agreements from Central American countries and the use of military deportation flights ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that may not align with factual evidence:

• False premise: The question assumes Trump deported more people than Biden, when the data consistently shows Biden's deportation numbers exceeded Trump's across multiple metrics and time periods.
• Timing bias: The question fails to account for the fact that Trump's current deportation efforts are still in early stages and may not reflect his administration's full capacity or long-term performance.
• Definitional ambiguity: The question doesn't distinguish between different types of removals (deportations vs. administrative returns), which is significant since Biden carried out the most administrative returns in at least 15 years ^[1].

The evidence suggests that immigration enforcement organizations and detention facility operators would benefit from narratives that emphasize the need for expanded deportation capabilities, while immigrant advocacy groups and economic analysts would benefit from highlighting the current administration's lower performance and negative economic impacts.