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Index/Topics/DHS and ICE Removals and Returns

DHS and ICE Removals and Returns

The distinction between removals and returns in the context of immigration law and the methods by which these numbers are reported and interpreted.

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Jan 8, 2026

How do DHS and ICE define and report 'removals' versus 'returns' and 'criminal convictions' in deportation data?

DHS and ICE distinguish "removals" as compelled departures under immigration law from "returns" or "voluntary returns," which are administrative or non‑judicial dispositions that do not carry the same...