Biden Administration Sets Decade-High Deportation Record in 2024

U.S. deports over 271,000 migrants in fiscal year 2024, the highest annual total since 2014, amid historic levels of border crossings and operational challenges.

The Biden administration deported 271,484 individuals in fiscal year 2024, marking the highest annual total in a decade, according to ICE data.
The majority of deportations in 2024 involved migrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border, with 82% of deportees falling into this category.
While deportation numbers surged in 2024, overall deportations during Biden's term were 41% lower than those during Trump’s first term, reflecting reduced deportations in Biden’s earlier years in office.
ICE faced significant resource challenges, including a $230 million budget shortfall and limited detention capacity, as its caseload grew to 7.6 million in 2024.
Border encounters dropped to their lowest levels since 2020 following Biden administration policies introduced in mid-2024, though total encounters for the year remained historically high at 2.9 million.