US immigration authorities removed over 270,000 people last financial year, according to figures released on Thursday, just weeks before Donald Trump takes office, vowing to deport millions of migrants.
This report marks the final annual tally under President Joe Biden and reveals the highest removal figures in the last decade, surpassing even those during Trump’s first term as president.
The majority of those removed had crossed the southern border illegally, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Around a third of them had criminal convictions or were facing criminal charges.
The report covers the 12 months leading up to the end of September, a period that coincided with the presidential campaign, during which Trump made cracking down on migration a key focus. He promised to launch the largest deportation operation in US history when he takes office on January 20.
Trump’s promise, largely built on the unproven claim that migrants commit more crimes than US citizens, resonated with many voters. However, he has provided little information on how such an operation would be carried out, with analysts suggesting it could be both costly and impractical with the current workforce.
“Every year, our workforce faces tremendous challenges — but every year, they meet those challenges head-on,” said ICE Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner.
Illegal crossings surged after Biden took office but have sharply declined over the past year following tighter rules on asylum claims. Estimates suggest that between 11 and 15 million people live in the United States illegally, though Trump and his supporters argue the number is much higher.
Many of those without legal status contribute to the economy by working and paying taxes, often in jobs that US citizens are unwilling to take.
Opponents of Trump’s deportation plans argue that such an extensive crackdown could harm the economy by creating labor shortages in sectors like housing, agriculture, and social care. Economists warn that such shortages could drive up prices, undermining one of Trump’s key campaign promises to reduce inflation.
