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Fact check: How many US citizens have been deported in 2025?

Checked on August 8, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, no sources contain specific data on the number of US citizens deported in 2025. The available information reveals several key findings:

  • ICE deportation activity is increasing overall: ICE is on track to record the most deportations since the Obama administration, with nearly 150,000 deportations in the first six months of the year [1]. However, this figure refers to total deportations, not specifically US citizens.
  • US citizens have been wrongfully detained and deported: Multiple sources confirm that US citizens, including children, have been impacted by immigration enforcement actions [2] [3]. Specific cases include Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, who was detained for nearly 48 hours, and Jose Hermosillo, a 19-year-old US citizen detained for nearly 10 days [2].
  • Policy changes increase deportation risks: Recent policy modifications by the Department of Homeland Security have increased deportation risks for immigrants, including those married to US citizens [4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes that US citizens are being deported in measurable numbers in 2025, but the analyses reveal important missing context:

  • Legal distinction: US citizens cannot be legally "deported" in the traditional sense, as deportation applies to non-citizens. However, citizens can be wrongfully detained and removed due to enforcement errors [2] [3].
  • Systematic tracking gaps: There appears to be no comprehensive tracking system for wrongful deportations of US citizens, making it difficult to provide accurate numbers [3].
  • Congressional oversight: Lawmakers are actively urging the Department of Homeland Security to investigate arrests, detention, and deportation of US citizens, suggesting this is a recognized problem requiring official investigation [3].
  • Due process concerns: The number of impacted citizens may continue to grow due to "indiscriminate raids and a lack of due process" [3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several problematic assumptions:

  • Terminology confusion: The question uses "deported" when referring to US citizens, which is technically incorrect legal terminology. US citizens are "removed" or "wrongfully deported" rather than legally deported.
  • Implies systematic deportation: The phrasing suggests that US citizen deportations are a regular, tracked occurrence in 2025, when the evidence shows these are exceptional cases of enforcement errors rather than policy.
  • Lacks acknowledgment of legal protections: The question doesn't recognize that US citizens have constitutional protections against deportation, making such cases violations of due process rather than standard immigration enforcement.

The question may inadvertently spread confusion about immigration law and the rights of US citizens, potentially contributing to fear or misunderstanding about citizenship protections.

Want to dive deeper?
What are the laws protecting US citizens from deportation?
How many US citizens have been wrongly deported since 2020?
What is the process for a US citizen to report wrongful deportation?
Can US citizens be deported if they have a criminal record?
Which government agencies are responsible for investigating wrongful deportations of US citizens?