U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that they had made more deportations. 270,000 people People were deported to 192 countries during the 2024 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, the highest number of deportations since 2014, when ICE reported 315,943 deportations.
The increase in deportations in 2024 will also increase by 90% from fiscal year 2023 and 276% from 2022.
ICE's annual report released Thursday attributes this to a variety of factors. This includes an increase in the number of deportation flights taking place on weekends. Streamlined travel procedures for dispatchers to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
The highest number of deportations accomplished by ICE during President Trump's first term in the White House was 267,258 in 2019.
ICE reported that of the 271,484 people it forcibly removed, nearly 33 percent had criminal records. There were 47,885 reported assault charges, 16,225 sexual assault or sex-related charges, 10,862 weapons offenses, and 9,453 robberies.
The number of unaccompanied children also increased by 93.3%, from 212 in 2023 to 411 in 2024. In 2019, the number was 6,351.
Mexico had the highest number of deportees at 87,298, followed by Guatemala and Honduras with 66,435 and 45,923, respectively.
ICE arrested 113,431 people in fiscal year 2024, down 34% from 170,590 in 2023.
The agency reported 46,612 arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico in November, and 56,526 in October alone. This is down from the 250,000 people arrested in December 2023.
Immigration will be a hot topic in the 2024 presidential election, with President-elect Trump promising mass deportations while in office. Tom Homan, whom President Donald Trump refers to as the “border czar,” recently said that a significant increase in ICE officers would be needed to make the president-elect's plan a success.
“President Trump will resolve on day one the immigration and national security nightmare created by Joe Biden by launching the largest mass deportation operation of illegal offenders in U.S. history.”Trump Vance Transition Spokesperson Caroline Leavitt told The Hill.
The Hill has reached out to Biden's team for comment.
— Updated at 12:19 p.m.
