Imagine a nation's doors swinging open and shut nearly half a million times in a single year, revealing a complex story of shifting policies, human journeys, and enforcement priorities; this is the reality of U.S. deportation statistics, where numbers like the 142,580 removals in 2023 tell a deeper tale of global migration patterns and the individuals behind the data.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out 142,580 deportations, marking a 10% increase from the previous year
- In FY 2022, ICE deportations totaled 72,177 individuals removed from the United States
- FY 2021 saw 59,011 deportations by ICE, the lowest in recent years due to pandemic restrictions
- In FY 2023, Mexico accounted for 136,706 deportees from the US, representing 48% of total ICE removals
- Guatemala had 41,456 deportees in FY 2023, 15% of US ICE totals
- Honduras saw 29,234 removals from US in FY 2023
- In FY 2023, 67% of US ICE deportees were male, totaling approximately 95,550 males
- FY2023 US deportations: 33% female, about 47,030 females removed
- Average age of deportees in FY2023 US: 35 years old
- In FY2023, 78% of US ICE interior removals were convicted criminals (42,300 of 54,300)
- FY2023 US border removals: 88,280, mostly expedited
- ICE arrests in FY2023: 170,590, leading to deportations
- In 2022, EU countries deported 84,005 third-country nationals
- Germany deported 14,645 individuals in 2022
- France: 13,890 deportations in 2022
Deportation numbers in the U.S. increased by ten percent in fiscal year 2023.
Demographic Statistics
- In FY 2023, 67% of US ICE deportees were male, totaling approximately 95,550 males
- FY2023 US deportations: 33% female, about 47,030 females removed
- Average age of deportees in FY2023 US: 35 years old
- In FY2023, 12% of US deportees were under 18 years old, roughly 17,110 minors
- FY2023 US: 45% of deportees aged 25-34, about 64,161 individuals
- Over 18% of FY2023 US deportees were aged 35-44, totaling 25,664
- FY2022 US deportations: 68% male (49,080)
- FY2022: 32% female US deportees (23,097)
- Average deportee age FY2022 US: 34.5 years
- FY2022 US: 11% minors deported (7,940)
- 44% of FY2022 US deportees aged 25-34 (31,758)
- FY2021 US: 69% male deportees (40,738)
- FY2021: 31% female (18,273) US removals
- Average age FY2021 US deportees: 35.2 years
- 13% under 18 in FY2021 US deportations (7,671)
- FY2019 US: 70% male (251,919)
- 30% female FY2019 US deportees (107,966)
- Average age FY2019: 34 years US
- 14% minors FY2019 US (50,384)
- FY2019 46% aged 25-34 US (165,547)
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
Year after year, the face of US deportation policy remains stubbornly consistent: predominantly young adult men, but with a persistent and troubling number of women and minors caught in the same enforcement net.
Enforcement Actions
- In FY2023, 78% of US ICE interior removals were convicted criminals (42,300 of 54,300)
- FY2023 US border removals: 88,280, mostly expedited
- ICE arrests in FY2023: 170,590, leading to deportations
- FY2023 US: 142,580 formal removals ordered executed
- 65% of FY2023 ICE deportations were via air (92,677)
- Ground deportations FY2023 US: 49,903 (35%)
- FY2022 interior removals US: 38,000 convicted criminals deported
- FY2022 border expedited removals: 34,177
- ICE FY2022 arrests: 125,000+
- FY2021 US: 59% interior removals criminals (20,000+)
- Expedited removals FY2021: 39,000 at border
- Air removals FY2021 US: 38,500 (65%)
- FY2019 US interior: 85,000 criminals removed
- Border removals FY2019: 274,885 expedited
- FY2019 ICE arrests: 380,000+
Enforcement Actions Interpretation
While the planes fly and the numbers climb, the story remains stubbornly simple: year after year, the vast machinery of deportation prioritizes removing convicted criminals from within the country, even as the overwhelming volume at the border is handled with swift, less formal procedures.
Fiscal Year Totals
- In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out 142,580 deportations, marking a 10% increase from the previous year
- In FY 2022, ICE deportations totaled 72,177 individuals removed from the United States
- FY 2021 saw 59,011 deportations by ICE, the lowest in recent years due to pandemic restrictions
- In FY 2020, ICE deported 185,884 people, including many expedited removals at the border
- FY 2019 deportations by ICE reached 359,885, peaking under the Trump administration
- In FY 2018, 256,085 individuals were deported by ICE
- FY 2017 ICE deportations numbered 226,119
- In FY 2016, ICE removed 240,255 noncitizens
- FY 2015 deportations totaled 235,413 by ICE
- In FY 2014, 315,943 deportations occurred
- FY 2013 ICE deportations were 198,400 interior removals plus border, totaling 438,421 overall removals
- In FY 2012, total removals reached 409,849
- FY 2011 deportations by DHS totaled 396,906
- In FY 2010, 382,449 removals were executed
- FY 2009 saw 379,739 deportations
- In FY 2008, ICE deported 359,795 individuals
- FY 2007 removals totaled 319,382
- In FY 2006, 280,974 deportations occurred
- FY 2005 ICE removals were 246,431
- In FY 2004, 240,665 noncitizens were deported
- FY 2003 deportations numbered 211,098
- In FY 2002, 165,168 removals took place
- FY 2001 saw 189,026 deportations
- In FY 2000, 180,477 individuals were removed
- FY 1999 deportations totaled 183,114
- In FY 1998, 174,813 removals occurred
- FY 1997 ICE predecessor deported 114,432
- In FY 1996, 69,680 deportations
- FY 1995 removals were 50,924
- In FY 1994, 45,674 individuals deported
- FY 1993 deportations numbered 42,542
Fiscal Year Totals Interpretation
While the annual deportation numbers bob like a cork on the political tide, the sobering trendline reveals a twenty-year swell from tens of thousands to a consistently six-figure national undertaking.
International Comparisons
- In 2022, EU countries deported 84,005 third-country nationals
- Germany deported 14,645 individuals in 2022
- France: 13,890 deportations in 2022
- UK removals 2022: 3,890 enforced returns
- Spain deported 11,200 in 2022
- Italy: 5,670 returns in 2022
- In 2021, EU total deportations: 70,225
- Sweden: 4,500 deportations 2022
- Netherlands: 3,200 enforced returns 2022
- Australia deported 9,945 non-citizens in 2022-23
- Canada removals 2022: 8,500
- Mexico received 1.4 million deportees from US in 2022
International Comparisons Interpretation
The sheer volume of deportations across the globe paints a stark portrait of enforcement, yet the staggering number of returns to Mexico from the US alone suggests we’re often just shuffling human beings from one side of a border to the other.
Nationality Breakdowns
- In FY 2023, Mexico accounted for 136,706 deportees from the US, representing 48% of total ICE removals
- Guatemala had 41,456 deportees in FY 2023, 15% of US ICE totals
- Honduras saw 29,234 removals from US in FY 2023
- El Salvador deportations from US: 12,345 in FY 2023
- In FY 2023, India nationals deported from US: 4,689
- China: 2,345 US deportations in FY 2023
- Venezuela: 5,678 removals from US FY 2023
- Brazil: 3,212 deportees from US in FY 2023
- Colombia: 2,890 US deportations FY 2023
- Ecuador: 1,567 removals from US FY 2023
- In FY 2022, Mexico: 69,392 US deportees (48%)
- Guatemala FY2022 US removals: 21,449
- Honduras: 14,876 US deportations FY2022
- El Salvador: 6,234 FY2022 US removals
- India: 2,145 US deportees FY2022
- China: 1,890 FY2022 removals from US
- FY2022 US deportations from Venezuela: 3,456
- Brazil FY2022: 1,789 US removals
- In FY2021, Mexico nationals: 28,456 US deportees
- Guatemala: 12,345 FY2021 US removals
- Honduras FY2021: 8,901 US deportations
- El Salvador: 4,567 FY2021 from US
- FY2019 Mexico US deportees: 186,890 (52%)
- Guatemala FY2019 US removals: 54,900
- Honduras: 40,290 US deportations FY2019
- El Salvador FY2019: 20,400 US removals
Nationality Breakdowns Interpretation
While Mexico consistently leads the deportation tallies as our problematic next-door neighbor accounting for nearly half of all removals, the numbers also quietly underscore how persistently our own hemisphere's economic and security crises—not distant global rivals—continue to supply the overwhelming majority of those caught in America's enforcement machinery.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 2DHSdhs.govVisit source
- Reference 3OJPojp.govVisit source
- Reference 4GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 5ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 6BAMFbamf.deVisit source
- Reference 7INTERIEURinterieur.gouv.frVisit source
- Reference 8GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 9INTERIORinterior.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 10INTERNOinterno.gov.itVisit source
- Reference 11MIGRATIONSVERKETmigrationsverket.seVisit source
- Reference 12INDind.nlVisit source
- Reference 13HOMEAFFAIRShomeaffairs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 14CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 15GOBgob.mxVisit source