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
1In FY 2023, 67% of US ICE deportees were male, totaling approximately 95,550 males
Verified2FY2023 US deportations: 33% female, about 47,030 females removed
Verified3Average age of deportees in FY2023 US: 35 years old
Verified4In FY2023, 12% of US deportees were under 18 years old, roughly 17,110 minors
Directional5FY2023 US: 45% of deportees aged 25-34, about 64,161 individuals
Single source6Over 18% of FY2023 US deportees were aged 35-44, totaling 25,664
Verified7FY2022 US deportations: 68% male (49,080)
Verified8FY2022: 32% female US deportees (23,097)
Verified9Average deportee age FY2022 US: 34.5 years
Directional10FY2022 US: 11% minors deported (7,940)
Single source1144% of FY2022 US deportees aged 25-34 (31,758)
Verified12FY2021 US: 69% male deportees (40,738)
Verified13FY2021: 31% female (18,273) US removals
Verified14Average age FY2021 US deportees: 35.2 years
Directional1513% under 18 in FY2021 US deportations (7,671)
Single source16FY2019 US: 70% male (251,919)
Verified1730% female FY2019 US deportees (107,966)
Verified18Average age FY2019: 34 years US
Verified1914% minors FY2019 US (50,384)
Directional20FY2019 46% aged 25-34 US (165,547)
Single sourceDemographic 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
1In FY2023, 78% of US ICE interior removals were convicted criminals (42,300 of 54,300)
Verified2FY2023 US border removals: 88,280, mostly expedited
Verified3ICE arrests in FY2023: 170,590, leading to deportations
Verified4FY2023 US: 142,580 formal removals ordered executed
Directional565% of FY2023 ICE deportations were via air (92,677)
Single source6Ground deportations FY2023 US: 49,903 (35%)
Verified7FY2022 interior removals US: 38,000 convicted criminals deported
Verified8FY2022 border expedited removals: 34,177
Verified9ICE FY2022 arrests: 125,000+
Directional10FY2021 US: 59% interior removals criminals (20,000+)
Single source11Expedited removals FY2021: 39,000 at border
Verified12Air removals FY2021 US: 38,500 (65%)
Verified13FY2019 US interior: 85,000 criminals removed
Verified14Border removals FY2019: 274,885 expedited
Directional15FY2019 ICE arrests: 380,000+
Single sourceEnforcement 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
1In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out 142,580 deportations, marking a 10% increase from the previous year
Verified2In FY 2022, ICE deportations totaled 72,177 individuals removed from the United States
Verified3FY 2021 saw 59,011 deportations by ICE, the lowest in recent years due to pandemic restrictions
Verified4In FY 2020, ICE deported 185,884 people, including many expedited removals at the border
Directional5FY 2019 deportations by ICE reached 359,885, peaking under the Trump administration
Single source6In FY 2018, 256,085 individuals were deported by ICE
Verified7FY 2017 ICE deportations numbered 226,119
Verified8In FY 2016, ICE removed 240,255 noncitizens
Verified9FY 2015 deportations totaled 235,413 by ICE
Directional10In FY 2014, 315,943 deportations occurred
Single source11FY 2013 ICE deportations were 198,400 interior removals plus border, totaling 438,421 overall removals
Verified12In FY 2012, total removals reached 409,849
Verified13FY 2011 deportations by DHS totaled 396,906
Verified14In FY 2010, 382,449 removals were executed
Directional15FY 2009 saw 379,739 deportations
Single source16In FY 2008, ICE deported 359,795 individuals
Verified17FY 2007 removals totaled 319,382
Verified18In FY 2006, 280,974 deportations occurred
Verified19FY 2005 ICE removals were 246,431
Directional20In FY 2004, 240,665 noncitizens were deported
Single source21FY 2003 deportations numbered 211,098
Verified22In FY 2002, 165,168 removals took place
Verified23FY 2001 saw 189,026 deportations
Verified24In FY 2000, 180,477 individuals were removed
Directional25FY 1999 deportations totaled 183,114
Single source26In FY 1998, 174,813 removals occurred
Verified27FY 1997 ICE predecessor deported 114,432
Verified28In FY 1996, 69,680 deportations
Verified29FY 1995 removals were 50,924
Directional30In FY 1994, 45,674 individuals deported
Single source31FY 1993 deportations numbered 42,542
VerifiedFiscal 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
1In 2022, EU countries deported 84,005 third-country nationals
Verified2Germany deported 14,645 individuals in 2022
Verified3France: 13,890 deportations in 2022
Verified4UK removals 2022: 3,890 enforced returns
Directional5Spain deported 11,200 in 2022
Single source6Italy: 5,670 returns in 2022
Verified7In 2021, EU total deportations: 70,225
Verified8Sweden: 4,500 deportations 2022
Verified9Netherlands: 3,200 enforced returns 2022
Directional10Australia deported 9,945 non-citizens in 2022-23
Single source11Canada removals 2022: 8,500
Verified12Mexico received 1.4 million deportees from US in 2022
VerifiedInternational 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
1In FY 2023, Mexico accounted for 136,706 deportees from the US, representing 48% of total ICE removals
Verified2Guatemala had 41,456 deportees in FY 2023, 15% of US ICE totals
Verified3Honduras saw 29,234 removals from US in FY 2023
Verified4El Salvador deportations from US: 12,345 in FY 2023
Directional5In FY 2023, India nationals deported from US: 4,689
Single source6China: 2,345 US deportations in FY 2023
Verified7Venezuela: 5,678 removals from US FY 2023
Verified8Brazil: 3,212 deportees from US in FY 2023
Verified9Colombia: 2,890 US deportations FY 2023
Directional10Ecuador: 1,567 removals from US FY 2023
Single source11In FY 2022, Mexico: 69,392 US deportees (48%)
Verified12Guatemala FY2022 US removals: 21,449
Verified13Honduras: 14,876 US deportations FY2022
Verified14El Salvador: 6,234 FY2022 US removals
Directional15India: 2,145 US deportees FY2022
Single source16China: 1,890 FY2022 removals from US
Verified17FY2022 US deportations from Venezuela: 3,456
Verified18Brazil FY2022: 1,789 US removals
Verified19In FY2021, Mexico nationals: 28,456 US deportees
Directional20Guatemala: 12,345 FY2021 US removals
Single source21Honduras FY2021: 8,901 US deportations
Verified22El Salvador: 4,567 FY2021 from US
Verified23FY2019 Mexico US deportees: 186,890 (52%)
Verified24Guatemala FY2019 US removals: 54,900
Directional25Honduras: 40,290 US deportations FY2019
Single source26El Salvador FY2019: 20,400 US removals
VerifiedNationality 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