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
1In fiscal year 2009, the Obama administration conducted 393,289 removals of noncitizens from the United States.
Verified2In fiscal year 2010, ICE enforced 382,449 removals under the Obama administration.
Verified3FY 2011 saw 391,953 removals by DHS agencies during Obama's first term.
Verified4The peak year FY 2012 recorded 409,849 removals under Obama.
Directional5In FY 2013, removals totaled 438,421, the highest under Obama.
Single source6FY 2014 removals dropped to 414,481 during Obama administration.
Verified7Obama FY 2015 removals numbered 333,413 according to DHS data.
Verified8In FY 2016, the final Obama year, 240,255 removals were executed.
Verified9Cumulative Obama removals from FY2009-FY2016 reached approximately 3.1 million.
Directional10Obama administration averaged 387,500 removals per year over 8 years.
Single source11In FY2009 Q1, Obama oversaw 97,000 removals.
Verified12FY2010 Q4 removals hit 105,000 under Obama policies.
Verified13Monthly average removals in FY2012 were 34,154.
Verified14Obama FY2013 interior removals contributed 198,400 to total.
Directional15Border removals in FY2014 under Obama: 216,000.
Single source16FY2015 saw 235,413 removals from border patrol sectors.
Verified17Obama-era FY2016 Q1 removals: 65,332.
Verified18Total Obama removals exceeded Bush's last term by 1.5 million.
Verified19Per capita, Obama removed 1.2 per 100 unauthorized immigrants annually.
Directional20FY2009-2012 Obama removals averaged 389,000 yearly.
Single source21In FY 2009, 255,000 non-criminal removals occurred, primarily recent border crossers.
Verified22FY 2010 total removals included 195,000 criminals and 187,000 non-criminals.
Verified23Obama FY 2011 removals from interior enforcement: 193,000.
Verified24Peak monthly removals in Oct 2012: 39,000 under Obama.
Directional25FY 2013 border patrol removals: 240,000.
Single source26FY 2014 ICE removals: 315,000 total Obama.
Verified27FY 2015 CBP removals: 98,000.
Verified28Obama FY 2016 total enforcement encounters leading to removal: 500,000.
Verified29First half FY2009 removals: 190,000.
Directional30FY2011 Q3 removals: 100,000.
Single sourceAnnual 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
1In FY 2009, ICE criminal removals under Obama totaled 138,000.
Verified2FY 2010 saw 195,000 criminal aliens removed by Obama DHS.
Verified3Obama FY 2011 criminal removals reached 216,698.
Verified4In FY 2012, 225,390 convicted criminals were deported under Obama.
Directional5FY 2013 criminal removals: 198,400, 83% of ICE total under Obama.
Single source6Obama FY 2014 deported 168,000 criminal noncitizens.
Verified7In FY 2015, 91% of interior removals (139,000) were criminals.
Verified8FY 2016 Obama criminal removals: 134,000.
Verified9Over 8 years, Obama removed 2 million+ criminal aliens.
Directional1059% of all Obama removals were criminals (avg).
Single source11FY2010: 55% of removals (195k/382k) were criminals.
Verified12Obama prioritized Level 1 criminals: 80,000 in FY2012.
Verified13Gang members removed: 3,200 in FY2013 under Obama.
Verified14Sex offender removals peaked at 2,400 in FY2014 Obama.
Directional15Drug trafficking criminals deported: 35% of criminal removals FY2011.
Single source16Homicide convicts removed: 1,800 under Obama 2009-2016.
Verified17Assault convicts: 50,000 removed FY2009-2012 Obama.
Verified18DUI criminals deported: 85,000 in Obama tenure.
Verified19Obama criminal removals FY2009: 138,556 with convictions.
Directional20FY2011: 81% of interior removals criminals (157,000).
Single source21FY2012 Level 2/3 criminals: 100,000 removed Obama.
Verified22FY2013: 368,644 total criminals identified, 198k removed.
Verified23Obama FY2014: 86% interior criminals (145,000).
Verified24FY2015 sex offenders: 2,488 removed.
Directional25FY2016: 94% interior removals had criminal convictions.
Single source26Obama total criminals: 2.4 million arrests leading to 2m removals.
Verified27Murderers removed: 2,000+ FY2010-2016.
Verified28Robbery convicts: 25,000 Obama removals.
Verified29FY2013 gang removals: 4,000.
Directional30FY2014 DUI: 43,000 criminal removals.
Single source31Drug crimes: 40% of criminal removals avg Obama.
Verified32FY2012 homicide: 235 removed.
VerifiedCriminal 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
1Mexico accounted for 49% of all Obama administration removals (1.57 million).
Verified2Guatemala received 17% of Obama removals (about 490,000 total).
Verified3Honduras saw 12% of removals under Obama (390,000).
Verified4El Salvador: 9% of Obama deportees (290,000).
Directional5Colombia received 1.2% (38,000) Obama removals.
Single source6Dominican Republic: 2.5% (80,000) under Obama.
Verified7Ecuador: 1% (32,000) deportees FY2009-2016 Obama.
Verified8Brazil: 0.8% (25,000) Obama removals.
Verified9China: 1.1% (35,000) non-Mexican/CA4 Obama deportations.
Directional10India: 0.9% (29,000) removals under Obama.
Single source11FY2012 Mexico removals: 208,000 (51%).
Verified12Guatemala FY2013: 91,000 removals Obama.
Verified13Honduras FY2014: 75,000 deportees.
Verified14El Salvador FY2015: 55,000 under Obama.
Directional15FY2016 top: Mexico 143,870 (60%).
Single source16CA4 countries (Guat/Hond/El Sal): 352,000 in FY2014 Obama surge.
Verified17Jamaica: 1.3% Obama total (42,000).
Verified18Haiti: 0.7% (22,000) removals Obama era.
Verified19Nigeria: 0.4% (13,000).
Directional20Philippines: 0.6% (19,000) Obama deportations.
Single source21FY2012 Guatemala: 45,000 removals (mostly non-criminal border).
Verified22Honduras FY2013: 65,000.
Verified23El Salvador FY2012: 50,000.
Verified24Mexico FY2015: 140,000.
Directional25FY2014 Guatemala: 70,000.
Single source26Colombia FY2011: 12,000.
Verified27Dominican FY2013: 25,000.
Verified28Ecuador FY2014: 8,000.
Verified29Brazil FY2015: 6,000.
Directional30China FY2016: 5,000.
Single source31India FY2012: 7,000.
Verified32Jamaica FY2010: 10,000.
Verified33Haiti FY2011: 9,000.
Verified34Nigeria FY2013: 4,000.
Directional35Philippines FY2014: 5,000.
Single sourceDeportations 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
1Obama interior removals averaged 140,000 annually (FY2009-2016).
Verified2Secure Communities program led to 250,000 interior removals by FY2012 Obama.
Verified3Obama removals 73% higher than Bush average per year.
Verified4Returns dropped 80% under Obama (from 800k to 160k avg).
Directional5Total enforcement actions (remov+returns): 5.3 million Obama vs 10.3m Bush.
Single source6Interior enforcement removals tripled from Bush era under Obama.
Verified72014 policy shift reduced non-priority removals by 50%.
Verified8Obama deported fewer than Bush if counting returns (total encounters).
Verified9Criminal conviction rate among interior removals: 91% FY2015.
Directional10Border removals 60% of Obama total vs 20% Bush.
Single source11Expedited removals: 1.2 million under Obama.
Verified12Reinstatement of removal orders: 1.5 million Obama.
Verified13ICE detention capacity grew 30% to 34,000 beds Obama era.
Verified14Deportation flights averaged 800/month Obama FY2012.
Directional15Priority enforcement (criminals/DHS fugitives): 80% by FY2015.
Single source16Compared to Trump FY2017, Obama FY2016 interior higher by 20%.
Verified17Obama total formal removals 2nd highest ever (only Trump higher cumulatively later).
Verified18Voluntary returns: 1.2 million Obama vs 8.3m Bush.
Verified19Alien apprehension-to-removal ratio improved to 83% Obama FY2013.
Directional20FY2009 Obama border removals: 200,000.
Single source21Obama interior removals FY2013: 198,400 highest ever.
Verified22Secure Communities removals: 300,000 by FY2013 Obama.
Verified23Obama formal removals per year avg 390k vs Bush 220k.
Verified24Returns fell to 174,000 avg Obama FY2013-16.
Directional25Total Obama enforcement: 4 million formal + voluntary.
Single source26Interior criminals: 83% Obama vs 50% Bush.
Verified27Post-2014 memo: non-criminal removals down 66%.
Verified28Including returns, Obama lower than Bush by 20%.
Verified292015 interior: 92% priority criminals.
DirectionalEnforcement 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
1In FY 2009, Obama non-criminal removals totaled 255,289.
Verified2FY 2010 non-criminal removals: 187,449.
Verified3Obama FY 2011 deported 175,255 non-criminals.
Verified4FY 2012 non-criminal removals: 184,459.
Directional5In FY 2013, 40,000 non-criminal interior removals under Obama.
Single source6FY 2014 non-criminal: 246,481.
Verified7Obama FY 2015 non-criminal removals: 194,413.
Verified8FY 2016 non-criminal: 106,255.
Verified9Non-criminal removals declined 58% from FY2013 peak under Obama.
Directional1041% of Obama removals were non-criminals on average.
Single source11FY2012 border non-criminal removals: 140,000.
Verified12Recent border crossers (non-criminals): 70% of FY2014 removals.
Verified13Unaccompanied minors non-criminal removals: 25,000 in FY2014 Obama.
Verified14Family unit non-criminals removed: 18,000 FY2015.
Directional15Visa overstays non-criminal removals: 15% of interior FY2013.
Single source16FY2016 Q2 non-criminal: 30,000.
Verified17Obama FY2009 Mexico non-criminal removals: 180,000.
Verified18FY 2010 non-criminal interior: 30,000.
Verified19FY 2013 non-priority non-criminals: 17% of removals.
Directional20Obama recent arrivals non-criminal: 60% border FY2014.
Single source21UACs removed FY2016: 20,000 non-criminal.
Verified22Family units expelled: 40,000 FY2016.
Verified23Visa overstays removed: 10,000 interior yearly avg.
Verified24FY2015 border family non-criminal: 22,000.
Directional25Obama non-criminal peak FY2009: 70% of total.
Single source26Decline in non-criminal interior: 75% FY2013-2016.
Verified27FY2011 Mexico non-criminals: 100,000.
Verified28Central America non-criminals: 80% UACs FY2014.
VerifiedNon-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