US immigration agency ICE reports record deportations

According to its own information, the US immigration agency ICE deported more people in the last financial year than ever before in its 23-year history. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 483,200 people were removed from the country by ICE as of the end of September.

The department's data shows a significant increase in deportations since Trump took office. While there were well over 400,000 deportations in the two years that fell entirely or mostly during his term in office, there were 271,000 last year under his predecessor Joe Biden.

However, experts express doubts about the transparency of the data. Details - for example how many of those deported have criminal records - are not publicly known. Additionally, since the start of Trump's second term, the government has stopped providing regular, detailed statistics on immigration detention and deportations.

Tougher US deportation policy

Trump significantly tightened the US deportation policy after taking office. The government provided additional funding for deportation officers, detention centers, and deportation flights.

The actions of the ICE authority have been particularly criticized. Human rights organizations complain that migrants are also deported to third countries that are not their country of birth or homeland. In addition, many people are denied the opportunity to challenge their deportation decision in court.