While often remembered as the "Deporter-in-Chief," Barack Obama's administration oversaw the removal of over 3.1 million people, a complex legacy defined by both a record-breaking focus on criminals and a dramatic late-term decline in overall deportations.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2009, the Obama administration conducted 393,289 removals of noncitizens from the United States.
- In fiscal year 2010, ICE enforced 382,449 removals under the Obama administration.
- FY 2011 saw 391,953 removals by DHS agencies during Obama's first term.
- In FY 2009, ICE criminal removals under Obama totaled 138,000.
- FY 2010 saw 195,000 criminal aliens removed by Obama DHS.
- Obama FY 2011 criminal removals reached 216,698.
- In FY 2009, Obama non-criminal removals totaled 255,289.
- FY 2010 non-criminal removals: 187,449.
- Obama FY 2011 deported 175,255 non-criminals.
- Mexico accounted for 49% of all Obama administration removals (1.57 million).
- Guatemala received 17% of Obama removals (about 490,000 total).
- Honduras saw 12% of removals under Obama (390,000).
- Obama interior removals averaged 140,000 annually (FY2009-2016).
- Secure Communities program led to 250,000 interior removals by FY2012 Obama.
- Obama removals 73% higher than Bush average per year.
The Obama administration oversaw approximately 3.1 million deportations over two terms.
Annual Total Removals
- In fiscal year 2009, the Obama administration conducted 393,289 removals of noncitizens from the United States.
- In fiscal year 2010, ICE enforced 382,449 removals under the Obama administration.
- FY 2011 saw 391,953 removals by DHS agencies during Obama's first term.
- The peak year FY 2012 recorded 409,849 removals under Obama.
- In FY 2013, removals totaled 438,421, the highest under Obama.
- FY 2014 removals dropped to 414,481 during Obama administration.
- Obama FY 2015 removals numbered 333,413 according to DHS data.
- In FY 2016, the final Obama year, 240,255 removals were executed.
- Cumulative Obama removals from FY2009-FY2016 reached approximately 3.1 million.
- Obama administration averaged 387,500 removals per year over 8 years.
- In FY2009 Q1, Obama oversaw 97,000 removals.
- FY2010 Q4 removals hit 105,000 under Obama policies.
- Monthly average removals in FY2012 were 34,154.
- Obama FY2013 interior removals contributed 198,400 to total.
- Border removals in FY2014 under Obama: 216,000.
- FY2015 saw 235,413 removals from border patrol sectors.
- Obama-era FY2016 Q1 removals: 65,332.
- Total Obama removals exceeded Bush's last term by 1.5 million.
- Per capita, Obama removed 1.2 per 100 unauthorized immigrants annually.
- FY2009-2012 Obama removals averaged 389,000 yearly.
- In FY 2009, 255,000 non-criminal removals occurred, primarily recent border crossers.
- FY 2010 total removals included 195,000 criminals and 187,000 non-criminals.
- Obama FY 2011 removals from interior enforcement: 193,000.
- Peak monthly removals in Oct 2012: 39,000 under Obama.
- FY 2013 border patrol removals: 240,000.
- FY 2014 ICE removals: 315,000 total Obama.
- FY 2015 CBP removals: 98,000.
- Obama FY 2016 total enforcement encounters leading to removal: 500,000.
- First half FY2009 removals: 190,000.
- FY2011 Q3 removals: 100,000.
Annual Total Removals Interpretation
While critics often painted him as soft on immigration, the Obama administration’s eight-year tenure operated as a relentless deportation machine, enforcing removals with such bureaucratic efficiency that it ultimately expelled over 3 million people, a record that complicates any simple political narrative.
Criminal Removals
- In FY 2009, ICE criminal removals under Obama totaled 138,000.
- FY 2010 saw 195,000 criminal aliens removed by Obama DHS.
- Obama FY 2011 criminal removals reached 216,698.
- In FY 2012, 225,390 convicted criminals were deported under Obama.
- FY 2013 criminal removals: 198,400, 83% of ICE total under Obama.
- Obama FY 2014 deported 168,000 criminal noncitizens.
- In FY 2015, 91% of interior removals (139,000) were criminals.
- FY 2016 Obama criminal removals: 134,000.
- Over 8 years, Obama removed 2 million+ criminal aliens.
- 59% of all Obama removals were criminals (avg).
- FY2010: 55% of removals (195k/382k) were criminals.
- Obama prioritized Level 1 criminals: 80,000 in FY2012.
- Gang members removed: 3,200 in FY2013 under Obama.
- Sex offender removals peaked at 2,400 in FY2014 Obama.
- Drug trafficking criminals deported: 35% of criminal removals FY2011.
- Homicide convicts removed: 1,800 under Obama 2009-2016.
- Assault convicts: 50,000 removed FY2009-2012 Obama.
- DUI criminals deported: 85,000 in Obama tenure.
- Obama criminal removals FY2009: 138,556 with convictions.
- FY2011: 81% of interior removals criminals (157,000).
- FY2012 Level 2/3 criminals: 100,000 removed Obama.
- FY2013: 368,644 total criminals identified, 198k removed.
- Obama FY2014: 86% interior criminals (145,000).
- FY2015 sex offenders: 2,488 removed.
- FY2016: 94% interior removals had criminal convictions.
- Obama total criminals: 2.4 million arrests leading to 2m removals.
- Murderers removed: 2,000+ FY2010-2016.
- Robbery convicts: 25,000 Obama removals.
- FY2013 gang removals: 4,000.
- FY2014 DUI: 43,000 criminal removals.
- Drug crimes: 40% of criminal removals avg Obama.
- FY2012 homicide: 235 removed.
Criminal Removals Interpretation
The Obama administration's deportation policy focused like a laser on removing criminal aliens, racking up over two million removals by targeting everyone from murderers to drunk drivers, though the debate continues over whether the net was cast precisely enough.
Deportations by Nationality
- Mexico accounted for 49% of all Obama administration removals (1.57 million).
- Guatemala received 17% of Obama removals (about 490,000 total).
- Honduras saw 12% of removals under Obama (390,000).
- El Salvador: 9% of Obama deportees (290,000).
- Colombia received 1.2% (38,000) Obama removals.
- Dominican Republic: 2.5% (80,000) under Obama.
- Ecuador: 1% (32,000) deportees FY2009-2016 Obama.
- Brazil: 0.8% (25,000) Obama removals.
- China: 1.1% (35,000) non-Mexican/CA4 Obama deportations.
- India: 0.9% (29,000) removals under Obama.
- FY2012 Mexico removals: 208,000 (51%).
- Guatemala FY2013: 91,000 removals Obama.
- Honduras FY2014: 75,000 deportees.
- El Salvador FY2015: 55,000 under Obama.
- FY2016 top: Mexico 143,870 (60%).
- CA4 countries (Guat/Hond/El Sal): 352,000 in FY2014 Obama surge.
- Jamaica: 1.3% Obama total (42,000).
- Haiti: 0.7% (22,000) removals Obama era.
- Nigeria: 0.4% (13,000).
- Philippines: 0.6% (19,000) Obama deportations.
- FY2012 Guatemala: 45,000 removals (mostly non-criminal border).
- Honduras FY2013: 65,000.
- El Salvador FY2012: 50,000.
- Mexico FY2015: 140,000.
- FY2014 Guatemala: 70,000.
- Colombia FY2011: 12,000.
- Dominican FY2013: 25,000.
- Ecuador FY2014: 8,000.
- Brazil FY2015: 6,000.
- China FY2016: 5,000.
- India FY2012: 7,000.
- Jamaica FY2010: 10,000.
- Haiti FY2011: 9,000.
- Nigeria FY2013: 4,000.
- Philippines FY2014: 5,000.
Deportations by Nationality Interpretation
While vowing to prioritize "felons, not families," the Obama administration's deportation machinery operated like a geographic roulette wheel, overwhelmingly landing on America's closest neighbors—with Mexico bearing nearly half the weight and Central America's Northern Triangle absorbing the next crushing wave.
Enforcement Trends and Comparisons
- Obama interior removals averaged 140,000 annually (FY2009-2016).
- Secure Communities program led to 250,000 interior removals by FY2012 Obama.
- Obama removals 73% higher than Bush average per year.
- Returns dropped 80% under Obama (from 800k to 160k avg).
- Total enforcement actions (remov+returns): 5.3 million Obama vs 10.3m Bush.
- Interior enforcement removals tripled from Bush era under Obama.
- 2014 policy shift reduced non-priority removals by 50%.
- Obama deported fewer than Bush if counting returns (total encounters).
- Criminal conviction rate among interior removals: 91% FY2015.
- Border removals 60% of Obama total vs 20% Bush.
- Expedited removals: 1.2 million under Obama.
- Reinstatement of removal orders: 1.5 million Obama.
- ICE detention capacity grew 30% to 34,000 beds Obama era.
- Deportation flights averaged 800/month Obama FY2012.
- Priority enforcement (criminals/DHS fugitives): 80% by FY2015.
- Compared to Trump FY2017, Obama FY2016 interior higher by 20%.
- Obama total formal removals 2nd highest ever (only Trump higher cumulatively later).
- Voluntary returns: 1.2 million Obama vs 8.3m Bush.
- Alien apprehension-to-removal ratio improved to 83% Obama FY2013.
- FY2009 Obama border removals: 200,000.
- Obama interior removals FY2013: 198,400 highest ever.
- Secure Communities removals: 300,000 by FY2013 Obama.
- Obama formal removals per year avg 390k vs Bush 220k.
- Returns fell to 174,000 avg Obama FY2013-16.
- Total Obama enforcement: 4 million formal + voluntary.
- Interior criminals: 83% Obama vs 50% Bush.
- Post-2014 memo: non-criminal removals down 66%.
- Including returns, Obama lower than Bush by 20%.
- 2015 interior: 92% priority criminals.
Enforcement Trends and Comparisons Interpretation
While often framed as pursuing lighter enforcement, President Obama's administration actually intensified formal deportations through targeted interior programs that prioritized criminals, a strategic shift that made his overall record both more severe and more surgically precise than his predecessor's.
Non-Criminal Removals
- In FY 2009, Obama non-criminal removals totaled 255,289.
- FY 2010 non-criminal removals: 187,449.
- Obama FY 2011 deported 175,255 non-criminals.
- FY 2012 non-criminal removals: 184,459.
- In FY 2013, 40,000 non-criminal interior removals under Obama.
- FY 2014 non-criminal: 246,481.
- Obama FY 2015 non-criminal removals: 194,413.
- FY 2016 non-criminal: 106,255.
- Non-criminal removals declined 58% from FY2013 peak under Obama.
- 41% of Obama removals were non-criminals on average.
- FY2012 border non-criminal removals: 140,000.
- Recent border crossers (non-criminals): 70% of FY2014 removals.
- Unaccompanied minors non-criminal removals: 25,000 in FY2014 Obama.
- Family unit non-criminals removed: 18,000 FY2015.
- Visa overstays non-criminal removals: 15% of interior FY2013.
- FY2016 Q2 non-criminal: 30,000.
- Obama FY2009 Mexico non-criminal removals: 180,000.
- FY 2010 non-criminal interior: 30,000.
- FY 2013 non-priority non-criminals: 17% of removals.
- Obama recent arrivals non-criminal: 60% border FY2014.
- UACs removed FY2016: 20,000 non-criminal.
- Family units expelled: 40,000 FY2016.
- Visa overstays removed: 10,000 interior yearly avg.
- FY2015 border family non-criminal: 22,000.
- Obama non-criminal peak FY2009: 70% of total.
- Decline in non-criminal interior: 75% FY2013-2016.
- FY2011 Mexico non-criminals: 100,000.
- Central America non-criminals: 80% UACs FY2014.
Non-Criminal Removals Interpretation
The Obama administration's deportation numbers reveal a strategic, yet often unforgiving, shift from indiscriminate enforcement to a more targeted, but still substantial, focus on recent border crossers, while the dream of sanctuary for long-established families remained just that—a dream deferred by policy.
Sources & References
- Reference 1DHSdhs.govVisit source
- Reference 2ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 3PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 4MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 5CIScis.orgVisit source
- Reference 6GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 7CBPcbp.govVisit source
- Reference 8FACTCHECKfactcheck.orgVisit source
- Reference 9CATOcato.orgVisit source
- Reference 10WHITEHOUSEwhitehouse.govVisit source
- Reference 11FAIRUSfairus.orgVisit source
- Reference 12MPImpi.orgVisit source
- Reference 13WASHINGTONPOSTwashingtonpost.comVisit source