U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported a significant increase in deportations, marking the highest annual figure since 2014. The agency deported over 270,000 individuals in a recent 12-month period, which presents a substantial rise from the previous year.
ICE’s recent report outlines that the agency deported 271,484 individuals by the end of its fiscal year on September 30. This number represents nearly double the deportations from the previous year, which accounted for 142,580. The last time the figures were this high was in 2014, with 315,943 deportations. During the previous administration’s first term, 267,258 deportations were recorded in 2019.
The increase in deportations has been attributed to several operational changes. For instance, there were more deportation flights, including those scheduled on weekends, and streamlined procedures for deportations to specific countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Notably, ICE initiated its first significant deportation flight to China in six years, along with flights to other countries including Albania, Angola, Egypt, and India, among others.
In addition to ICE’s activities, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a decrease in arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico. November figures showed 46,612 arrests, which is an 18% drop from the previous month and an 80% reduction from an all-time high in December 2023. This decrease is partly attributed to increased enforcement by Mexican authorities and stringent asylum restrictions introduced by the current administration.
Despite the rise in deportations, ICE faced challenges related to resources and infrastructure. The agency’s detention capacity remained constrained, averaging 37,700 detainees daily over the year, a figure determined by congressional funding. ICE has maintained a steady workforce of approximately 6,000 officers over the past decade, even as their caseload has grown significantly, reaching 7.6 million cases compared to 6.1 million the previous year.
Arrests made by ICE during this period totaled 113,431, marking a 34% decrease from the year before. This drop is primarily due to the reallocation of focus towards border enforcement. Texas has proposed using rural land as staging areas to address the detention space limitations.
The majority of deportees were sent to Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, which collectively accounted for the largest numbers. These countries are expected to continue receiving significant numbers of deportees due to logistical ease and their governments’ willingness to accept returning citizens.
The recent data from ICE shows a marked increase in deportations, indicating a shift in immigration enforcement strategies. However, resource limitations and logistic challenges remain significant hurdles. As the agency navigates these complexities, it continues to influence immigration patterns in and around the U.S.
Source: Apnews
