Paragraph 1: Deportation Figures Reach Trump-Era Levels
Fiscal Year 2024 witnessed a significant surge in deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reaching levels comparable to the Trump administration. ICE deported 271,484 illegal immigrants to 192 countries, a marked increase from the 142,000 deported in FY 2023 and the 72,000 in FY 2022. This figure approaches the 267,000 deportations in FY 2019 and surpasses the 185,000 deportations in FY 2020, the last year of the Trump administration, which was also significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of those deported in FY 2024, 32.7% had criminal histories, and 237 were identified as known or suspected terrorists.
Paragraph 2: Distinguishing Border Removals from Interior Deportations
While the overall deportation numbers are comparable to the Trump era, a crucial distinction must be made between removals at the border and deportations of individuals arrested within the U.S. interior. The vast majority of ICE deportations typically involve individuals apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border. In FY 2024, ICE deported only 47,000 individuals arrested in the interior, a slight increase from the 44,255 deported in FY 2023 and 28,204 in FY 2022. This figure, however, remains significantly lower than the 62,739 deported in FY 2020 and 85,958 in FY 2019 during the Trump administration.
Paragraph 3: ICE Resource Constraints and Impact on Interior Enforcement
ICE attributes the lower number of interior deportations to several factors, including the diversion of resources to the southern border to address the migrant crisis. This reallocation of personnel and resources has strained ICE’s capacity to conduct interior enforcement operations. Consequently, ICE arrests decreased by 33.5% in FY 2024, with 113,431 arrests compared to 170,590 in FY 2023. The focus on border processing and removals limited resources available for routine interior law enforcement actions.
Paragraph 4: Anticipated Policy Shifts and Increased Deportations
The incoming administration has signaled its intention to reverse the restrictions placed on ICE during the Biden administration and initiate a significant expansion of deportation efforts. This "historic" mass deportation campaign was a central promise of the Trump 2024 campaign. While met with resistance from some Democrats, the proposal has garnered support from others, particularly in cities overwhelmed by the migrant influx since 2021. Concrete steps are being taken by the transition team, including exploring the expansion of ankle monitor usage for illegal immigrants not in custody.
Paragraph 5: The Exploding Non-Detained Docket and the Scope of the Challenge
The scale of the immigration challenge is highlighted by the dramatic growth in ICE’s non-detained docket, which has more than doubled since the end of the Trump administration. This docket, comprising illegal immigrants in deportation proceedings but not in ICE custody, reached nearly 7.7 million in FY 2024, compared to 3.2 million at the end of FY 2020. This population includes individuals released at the border awaiting court dates and those with final deportation orders. Notably, over 1.4 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. have final orders of removal but remain in the country. The non-detained docket includes over 701,000 Venezuelan nationals, with only a small fraction (1,470) in ICE detention.
Paragraph 6: Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Removals
Despite a significant influx of over 500,000 unaccompanied migrant children during the Biden administration, only a small number have been removed. In FY 2024, 411 unaccompanied children were removed, a modest increase from 212 in FY 2023. This figure pales in comparison to the over 4,000 removed in FY 2020. The low removal numbers for this vulnerable population underscore the complexities and challenges inherent in addressing the ongoing immigration situation.
