Donald Trump deported 37,660 migrants in his first month, falls short of Biden’s average

During his campaign, Donald Trump promised to deport millions of illegal immigrants as part of his largest deportation operation in US history.

Updated on: Feb 22, 2025, 04:51:06 IST

By HT News Desk

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President Donald Trump deported 37,660 migrants during his first month in office, reported news agency Reuters. While this number is substantial, it significantly falls short of the monthly average seen in the final year of the Biden administration.

Donald Trump administration official and experts said deportations were poised to rise in coming months. (via REUTERS)

According to the data from the Department of Homeland Security, about 57,000 removals and returns were reported during the final year of former President Joe Biden's government.

Notably, during his presidential campaign, Trump promised to deport millions of illegal immigrants as part of his largest deportation operation in US history.

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Yet initial figures suggest Trump could struggle to match higher deportation rates during the last full year of the Biden administration when large numbers of migrants were caught crossing illegally, making them easier to deport.

'Artificially high': Trump administration reacts

Meanwhile, a senior Trump administration official and experts said deportations were poised to rise in coming months as Trump opens up new avenues to ramp up arrests and removals of illegal migrants.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Biden-era deportation numbers appeared "artificially high" because of higher levels of illegal immigration.

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The deportation effort could take off in several months, aided by agreements from Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, and Costa Rica to take deportees from other nations, the sources told Reuters.

Deportation under Trump 2.0

According to Reuters, the US military has assisted in more than a dozen military deportation flights to Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and India ever since Trump took the oath of office on January 20.

The Trump administration has also flown Venezuelan migrants to the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay.

Meanwhile, Trump also said in late January that his administration would prepare to detain up to 30,000 migrants there despite pushback from civil liberties groups.

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The Trump administration is also attempting to make it easier to arrest deportable migrants without criminal records and to detain more people with final deportation orders.

Last month, the Justice Department issued a memo allowing ICE officers to arrest migrants at US immigration courts, rolling back a Biden-era policy that limited such arrests.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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