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Deportation Comparison Across US Administrations

Comparing deportation totals across different US administrations, considering the distinction between removals and returns, and the impact of counting rules and policy changes on enforcement intensity and criminal targeting.

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Jan 21, 2026
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How do DHS counting methods (removals vs. returns) affect comparisons of deportation totals across administrations?

distinguishes “removals” — formal orders that create legal bars and consequences — from “returns,” which are confirmed movements out of without an order of removal, and that distinction radically alte...

Jan 29, 2026

What fraction of deportations under Obama were interior removals versus border returns, and how does that affect criminality rates?

saw a shifting mix of deportation actions: early in his presidency interior removals were high—often over 200,000 a year—but over time a growing share of actions were border returns or removals tied t...