Under the Obama administration, deportations could hit a 10-year low. In 2015, the number of deportations fell to its lowest point since President Obama took office. In 2014, pro-immigration lawmakers and activists criticized him for being a “deporter in chief." After Congress failed in passing a comprehensive immigration package (i.e. Gang of Eight Bill), the president decided to go at it alone.The Hill reported that the number of deportations under Obama reached over 400,000 in 2012, but dropped (unsurprisingly) when he issued his executive orders on deferred actions for children and parents who came here illegally:
The number of undocumented immigrants deported by President Obama is falling and could hit a 10-year low in 2016 just as the issue heats up in this year’s presidential race.Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) figures from June suggest 230,000 people could be removed or returned from the country by the end of the fiscal year next month, slightly fewer than the 235,413 deported in 2015. That was the lowest number since 2006.
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The rising number coincided with efforts to reach a deal in Congress on comprehensive immigration reform that would have included a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers in the country. Republicans were demanding that Obama toughen enforcement.
After the legislation failed, Obama shifted his strategy, pursuing executive actions that allowed some groups of undocumented immigrants to remain in the country.
Donald Trump has pledged to be tough on immigration and border enforcement, promising to deport criminal aliens on day one of his presidency.
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