U.S. immigration authorities deported over 270,000 individuals in the past financial year, according to figures released on Thursday, December 19.
This record-breaking number surpasses any annual total in the last decade and comes just weeks before former President Donald Trump is set to take office, having pledged to deport millions of migrants.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report reveals that most deportations involved individuals who had entered the U.S. illegally through the southern border.
Around one-third of those removed had prior criminal convictions or were facing charges.
The 12-month period, ending in September, coincided with a presidential campaign in which Trump made migration a central issue. He promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history upon assuming office on January 20. This pledge resonated with his supporters, with his campaign often emphasizing unproven claims that migrants commit more crimes than U.S. citizens.
ICE Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner commended the agency’s workforce, stating, “Every year, our workforce faces tremendous challenges — but every year, they meet those challenges head-on.”
Although illegal border crossings increased after President Joe Biden took office, they significantly declined in the past year due to stricter asylum policies enacted by his administration. Estimates suggest that 11 to 15 million individuals live in the U.S. without legal authorization, though Trump and his supporters claim the number is much higher.
Many undocumented migrants contribute to the economy by working and paying taxes, often filling jobs that citizens consider undesirable or difficult. Critics of Trump’s proposed crackdown argue that deporting migrants on such a large scale could harm the economy by causing labor shortages in sectors like housing, agriculture, and social care.
Economists warn that these labor shortages could lead to rising prices, potentially undermining Trump’s promise to reduce inflation—a central goal of his campaign.
