Keep Factually independent

Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.

Loading...Time left: ...
Loading...Goal: $500

Fact check: What was the breakdown of Trump deportations by country of origin?

Checked on June 11, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The deportation data shows a significant scale of operations, with over 207,000 deportations reported by early June 2025 [1]. The deportations targeted individuals from more than 150 countries [2], with specific data available for several regions:

*African Countries [2]:

  • Nigeria: 3,690 deportees
  • Somalia: 4,090 deportees
  • Mauritania: 3,822 deportees
  • Ghana: 3,228 deportees
  • Cameroon: 1,736 deportees
  • Other African nations with hundreds each

Latin American Focus*:

The primary deportation destinations remain in Central America and Mexico, with new agreements specifically allowing flights to Venezuela [3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original question:

  • There's a significant discrepancy in reported numbers, with some estimates suggesting the actual deportation figures could be around half of what's officially claimed [4]
  • The enforcement strategy has shifted from border-focused to internal arrests by ICE [1]
  • The pace of deportations has accelerated significantly, with May seeing 190 deportation flights - the highest since September 2021 [3]
  • There are currently 1,445,549 individuals on the non-detained docket with final removal orders [2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself oversimplifies a complex situation:

  • Looking at just raw deportation numbers by country doesn't tell the full story of enforcement strategy changes. The Trump administration has shifted from border enforcement to internal arrests [1]
  • Historical context is important - between 2017-2020, the Trump administration repatriated 2,101,220 people [5], showing that current numbers are part of a longer-term pattern
  • Different stakeholders benefit from different interpretations of these numbers:
  • The administration benefits from highlighting total deportation numbers to show tough enforcement
  • Immigration advocates benefit from highlighting lower estimated numbers
  • Countries receiving deportation flights have varying levels of cooperation, with new agreements specifically mentioned for Venezuela [3]
Want to dive deeper?
How do Trump's deportation numbers compare to Obama and Biden administrations?
What were the most common reasons for deportations during Trump's presidency?
Which countries refused to accept deportees during Trump's term?
What was the cost of deportation operations under the Trump administration?
How did Trump's deportation policies affect families and children?