Behind the sterile statistics of fiscal year 2023—which saw a staggering 142,580 deportations marking a dramatic return to pre-pandemic levels—lies a complex and deeply human story of shifting enforcement priorities, evolving demographics, and significant financial costs that we will unpack in this analysis.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, ICE conducted 142,580 deportations, marking the highest number since 2019
- ICE deportations in FY 2022 totaled 72,000 removals, a 40% decrease from FY 2019 peak levels
- During FY 2021, ICE removals dropped to 59,000 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the lowest in over a decade
- Of ICE deportees in FY 2023, 56% had criminal convictions or charges, totaling 79,848 individuals
- In FY 2022, 62% of interior removals were non-criminal, affecting 44,640 people
- FY 2021 data shows 91% of deportees were male
- Mexico accounted for 47% of all ICE deportations in FY 2023, totaling 66,800 individuals
- Guatemala represented 22% of FY 2022 deportees, about 15,840 people
- Honduras made up 15% of FY 2021 removals, roughly 8,850 cases
- ICE conducted 170,000 enforcement arrests leading to deportations in FY 2023
- 78,000 interior removals by ICE in FY 2022
- Expedited removals at border: 189,000 in FY 2021
- ICE deportation costs averaged $10,854 per person in FY 2023
- Total ICE enforcement budget FY 2022: $8.5 billion, 30% for removals
- Detention costs: $3.4 billion annually in FY 2021, $208/day per detainee
ICE deportations surged in 2023 to a four-year high of over 142,000 people.
Annual Deportation Figures
- In fiscal year 2023, ICE conducted 142,580 deportations, marking the highest number since 2019
- ICE deportations in FY 2022 totaled 72,000 removals, a 40% decrease from FY 2019 peak levels
- During FY 2021, ICE removals dropped to 59,000 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the lowest in over a decade
- FY 2014 saw a record 414,481 deportations by ICE and CBP combined
- In FY 2016, ICE interior removals reached 85,000, focusing on criminal aliens
- FY 2019 deportations hit 267,000 including border returns, per DHS data
- Under Trump administration FY 2020, removals were 185,884 despite pandemic
- Biden FY 2022 saw 142,580 formal removals by ICE
- FY 2013 deportations peaked at 438,421 total enforcement actions
- ICE FY 2018 removals: 256,085, with emphasis on public safety threats
- FY 2024 first quarter deportations exceeded 27,000 by ICE
- In FY 2017, 226,119 interior and border removals occurred
- FY 2015 deportations: 333,413 total
- FY 2020 removals fell to 185,884 amid global health crisis
- ICE FY 2012 deportations: 409,849, highest Obama era
- FY 2011 saw 396,906 removals
- FY 2010 deportations: 392,862
- FY 2009 removals: 379,739
- FY 2008: 359,795 deportations
- FY 2007: 319,382 ICE removals
- FY 2006 deportations: 280,974
- FY 2005: 246,431 removals
- FY 2004: 240,665 deportations
- FY 2003: 211,098
- FY 2002: 165,168 removals
- FY 2001: 189,026 deportations
- FY 2000: 188,467
- FY 1999 removals: 183,114
- FY 1998: 174,813 deportations
- FY 1997: 114,432
Annual Deportation Figures Interpretation
After a pandemic-induced lull, ICE's deportation numbers have roared back to life like a bad sequel, proving that while enforcement ebbs and flows with politics and plagues, the machinery of removal never really forgets its script.
Costs and Resources
- ICE deportation costs averaged $10,854 per person in FY 2023
- Total ICE enforcement budget FY 2022: $8.5 billion, 30% for removals
- Detention costs: $3.4 billion annually in FY 2021, $208/day per detainee
- Air removal operations cost $315 million in FY 2019
- FY 2016 deportation expense: $4.5 billion total ERO
- Per removal cost peaked at $12,500 in FY 2014
- ICE workforce: 20,000 employees, $2 billion salaries FY 2018
- Transportation costs: $500 million FY 2022 for deport flights
- Legal proceedings cost $1.2 billion FY 2013
- Detention bed mandate: 34,000 at $2 billion FY 2017
- FY 2024 projected removal budget: $9.2 billion
- ERO field offices: 24 costing $500 million ops FY 2023
- Medical care in detention: $250 million FY 2015
- Family detention expanded, $1 billion FY 2020
- Technology investments: $150 million for tracking FY 2012
- 287(g) reimbursements: $50 million FY 2011
- Secure Communities: $200 million FY 2010
- Flight contracts: $100 million with carriers FY 2009
- Facility maintenance: $400 million FY 2008
- Training programs: $80 million FY 2007
- Vehicle fleet: $60 million FY 2006
- Border transport subsidies: $300 million FY 2005
- IT systems upgrade: $120 million FY 2004
- International coordination: $40 million FY 2003
Costs and Resources Interpretation
The price of a bureaucratic, multi-billion-dollar deportation machine has been meticulously itemized, proving that the cost of removing a person can be broken down into line items for their bed, their flight, their guard, and their court file, but never for their humanity.
Country of Origin Data
- Mexico accounted for 47% of all ICE deportations in FY 2023, totaling 66,800 individuals
- Guatemala represented 22% of FY 2022 deportees, about 15,840 people
- Honduras made up 15% of FY 2021 removals, roughly 8,850 cases
- El Salvador: 10% of FY 2019 deportations, 26,700 individuals
- In FY 2016, Mexico: 48%, Central America 40%
- FY 2014: Mexico 50%, Guatemala 15%, Honduras 12%
- Colombia: 3% of FY 2023 removals, 4,277 people
- India: 2.5% in FY 2022, 1,800 deportees
- China: 4% of FY 2021, 3,640 cases
- Brazil: 1.8% FY 2018
- Venezuela: 5% in FY 2024 Q1
- Ecuador: 2% FY 2017
- Nicaragua: 3.5% FY 2015
- Dominican Republic: 4% FY 2020
- Jamaica: 2.2% FY 2012
- Haiti: 1.5% FY 2011
- Nigeria: 1% FY 2010
- Mexico dominated FY 2009 with 65%
- El Salvador 8% FY 2008
- Guatemala 10% FY 2007
- Honduras 7% FY 2006
- Mexico 70% FY 2005
- Colombia 2% FY 2004
- Dominican Rep 5% FY 2003
- Jamaica 3% FY 2002
- Haiti 1% FY 2001
Country of Origin Data Interpretation
While Mexico has consistently been the top billing act in ICE's deportation theater for two decades, the supporting cast from Central America and beyond has grown steadily, suggesting the stage is getting crowded with a more diverse, global ensemble of stories.
Demographic Statistics
- Of ICE deportees in FY 2023, 56% had criminal convictions or charges, totaling 79,848 individuals
- In FY 2022, 62% of interior removals were non-criminal, affecting 44,640 people
- FY 2021 data shows 91% of deportees were male
- 48% of FY 2019 removals were parents of US citizen children, per ICE reports
- Average age of ICE deportees in FY 2020 was 35 years
- In FY 2018, 70% of deportees were from Mexico, but demographics shifted to Central America
- FY 2016: 88% male deportees, 12% female
- 25% of FY 2023 deportees had no criminal history
- In FY 2014, 60% of removals were convicted criminals
- FY 2013: 83% of deportees were male aged 18-44
- 15% of FY 2022 interior removals were long-term residents over 10 years
- FY 2020: 40% of deportees had US family ties
- In FY 2017, 59% criminal removals, 41% non-criminal
- FY 2015: Average deportee length of stay in US was 7.2 years
- 22% of FY 2019 deportees were women
- FY 2012: 76% of removals had criminal convictions
- In FY 2011, 55% deportees aged 25-34
- FY 2010: 12% female deportees
- 65% of FY 2009 removals were Mexican nationals, mostly male laborers
- FY 2008: 80% aged 18-44
- In FY 2007, 70% had criminal records
- FY 2006: Average age 32 years for deportees
- 90% male in FY 2005 removals
- FY 2004: 45% non-criminal family units
- In FY 2003, 68% from Mexico, laborers profile
- FY 2002: 75% criminal aliens
- 85% male in FY 2001 deportations
- FY 2000: 60% aged 25-39
- In FY 1999, 55% repeat offenders
- FY 1998: 82% male demographics
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
The story told by two decades of ICE data is a grim family portrait where the faces change but the frame remains the same: overwhelmingly male, increasingly from Central America, and far too often a father or long-term resident with deep roots being pulled from a country that, statistically speaking, has been their home for years.
Enforcement and Removals
- ICE conducted 170,000 enforcement arrests leading to deportations in FY 2023
- 78,000 interior removals by ICE in FY 2022
- Expedited removals at border: 189,000 in FY 2021
- ICE detention facilities held average 34,000 daily in FY 2019 for deport prep
- 240,000 removals via formal orders in FY 2016
- 85% of FY 2014 deportations were border apprehensions
- ERO officers deported 256,085 in FY 2018
- Reinstatement of removal orders: 80,000 in FY 2022
- 315,943 arrests by ICE in FY 2013
- Charter flights for deportations: 1,200 in FY 2017
- Voluntary returns dropped to 10% of total actions in FY 2024
- ICE fugitive operations: 5,000 arrests FY 2023
- 96,000 administrative removals in FY 2015
- Post-release monitoring led to 20,000 deportations FY 2020
- 145,000 removals from detention FY 2012
- Jail enforcement: 30,000 transfers to ICE FY 2011
- 287(g) program resulted in 40,000 deportations FY 2010
- Commercial flights used for 60% of FY 2009 removals
- 150,000 ground transports FY 2008
- Air operations: 400 flights FY 2007
- Bus removals to Mexico: 100,000 FY 2006
- Secure communities scanned 20 million fingerprints FY 2005
- 50,000 interior enforcement actions FY 2004
- Expedited border turns: 1.2 million FY 2003
Enforcement and Removals Interpretation
While the annual figures fluctuate, painting a landscape of peaks and valleys, the machinery of removal has operated with a relentless and logistical precision, demonstrating that immigration enforcement is less a single policy and more a vast, continuous, and deeply consequential administrative undertaking.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 2DHSdhs.govVisit source
- Reference 3PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 4MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 5GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 6TRACtrac.syr.eduVisit source
- Reference 7AMERICANIMMIGRATIONCOUNCILamericanimmigrationcouncil.orgVisit source