Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced in its annual report that the agency deported 271,484 individuals in fiscal year 2023, marking the highest number of deportations since 2015.
Among those removed were nearly 89,000 individuals with criminal histories, including charges or convictions for homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, and other serious offenses. ICE reported that over 70% of those arrested were convicted or alleged criminals, a significant increase from 40% the previous year.
The report also highlighted the removal of 237 individuals identified as known or suspected terrorists. ICE emphasized its focus on prioritizing the arrest and deportation of noncitizens with criminal records or pending charges.
While some praised the increased enforcement, critics questioned the administration’s commitment to border security. Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County, Idaho, and president of the National Sheriffs’ Association, stated, “While these numbers are encouraging, it’s hard to reconcile the fact that the Biden-Harris Administration is attempting to take credit for putting out a fire they started nearly four years ago.”
Immigration has remained a contentious issue, particularly during the 2023 election. President-elect Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for what he described as lenient border policies and reiterated his plans for strict immigration enforcement, including mass deportations.
In a recent interview, Trump emphasized that his priority will be rapidly deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, but he confirmed plans to extend those efforts to all individuals in the country illegally.
“We’re doing criminals first,” Trump stated, “and we’re going to do them really rapidly.” His approach signals a return to tough immigration policies as a central focus of his administration.
