US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported more than 270,000 people to 192 countries in a recent 12-month period, the highest annual tally in a decade.
The big picture: ICE’s deportations in its fiscal year ending on Sept 30 doubled from the previous year, reaching 271,484 deportations, the highest count since 2014.
- Increased deportation flights, including weekend flights, and streamlined travel procedures to certain countries fueled the increase in deportations.
- Deportation flights included destinations like Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, China, Albania, Angola, Egypt, and several other countries.
Go deeper: US Customs and Border Protection made 46,612 arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico in November, a decrease of 18% from the previous month, and significantly lower than December 2023.
- Over the 12-month period, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras were the top three destinations for deportees, with Mexico receiving the highest number.
- ICE faced challenges due to limited detention space and staff as the caseload through immigration courts quadrupled while staff numbers remained steady at 6,000 officers.
- ICE made 113,431 arrests during the latest period, down by 34% from the previous year, with resources being diverted to the border with Mexico.
