Key Takeaways
• Trump deported about 33,311 Mexican citizens in first 100 days, fewer than Biden’s comparable period.
• Trump’s border apprehensions dropped 71% from January to February 2025, lowest daily average in CBP history.
• Biden focused on fast border returns; Trump targets broader groups with formal removal processes.
The Trump Administration’s Deportation Numbers Compared to Biden: What the Data Shows
As the Trump administration marks its first months back in office in 2025, questions about its immigration enforcement policies and deportation numbers have taken center stage. Many people want to know: Is Donald Trump deporting fewer Mexican citizens than Joe Biden did during his presidency? To answer this, it’s important to look closely at the latest official data, compare the approaches of both administrations, and understand how these policies affect real people—especially those in Hispanic communities.
This article breaks down the facts, explains the numbers, and explores what these changes mean for immigrants, families, and communities across the United States 🇺🇸 and Mexico 🇲🇽.
Who Is Deporting More Mexican Citizens—Trump or Biden?
Official numbers show that, so far, President Trump’s administration has deported fewer Mexican citizens than President Biden did during the same period. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released on April 28, 2025, the Trump administration reported deporting over 135,000 people in its first 100 days. However, independent analysis from TRAC Immigration suggests the real number is closer to 72,000.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on April 29, 2025, that Mexico 🇲🇽 received 38,757 people deported from the United States 🇺🇸 in Trump’s first 100 days, with 5,446 of them being citizens of other countries. This means about 33,311 Mexican citizens were deported during this time.
In comparison, the Biden administration removed or returned 775,000 unauthorized migrants in the 12 months after Title 42 ended (May 2023 through March 2024). This was more than any previous year since 2010. From the start of fiscal year 2021 through February 2024, the Biden administration carried out 1.1 million deportations, putting it on track to match the 1.5 million deportations during Trump’s first term.
Key Point: While both administrations have high deportation numbers, President Biden’s administration deported more Mexican citizens during similar periods, especially through border returns.
How Do Trump and Biden Differ in Their Deportation Approaches?
The two administrations have taken different paths when it comes to immigration enforcement and deportation:
Trump Administration (2025):
– Focuses on mass deportation operations, targeting both people at the border and those already living in the United States 🇺🇸.
– Launched “Operation Tidal Wave,” a multi-agency effort that led to 780 arrests in just four days.
– Increased federal and state partnerships for immigration enforcement by 317%.
– Targets a wide range of people, including those with no criminal records.
Biden Administration (2021–2025):
– Focused mainly on border enforcement, not on removing people from inside the country.
– Emphasized “returns” directly across the border to Mexico 🇲🇽, rather than formal removals from the interior.
– Processed 316,000 migrants through expedited removal from May 2023 to March 2024.
– In fiscal year 2023, for the first time since 2010, more migrants were returned directly across the border than removed from inside the United States 🇺🇸.
What’s the Difference Between a “Return” and a “Removal”?
– Return: Sending someone back across the border, often quickly and without a formal court process.
– Removal: A formal process where someone is ordered to leave the United States 🇺🇸, usually after a court hearing.
Biden’s focus on returns meant that many Mexican citizens were sent back across the border quickly, while Trump’s current approach is broader, targeting people from many countries and using more formal removal processes.
Recent Border Enforcement Data: What’s Happening at the Border?
Since President Trump took office in January 2025, border crossings have dropped sharply. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for February 2025:
– Border Patrol apprehensions averaged about 330 per day nationwide—the lowest in CBP history.
– At the southwest border, apprehensions fell to less than 300 per day.
– In February 2025, Border Patrol caught 8,347 people crossing the southwest border between ports of entry. This is a 71% drop from January 2025 and a 94% drop from February 2024.
These numbers show that the Trump administration’s strict border policies have led to fewer people trying to cross the border illegally. However, this also means that fewer people are being caught and deported at the border, which affects the overall deportation numbers.
How Are Deportations Carried Out?
The Trump administration is using several methods to deport people:
– Military flights: Used to send people back to their home countries. Some experts, like Tom Cartwright from Witness at the Border, say these flights are used to make a strong public statement.
– Regular deportation flights: For example, three flights landed in Venezuela in the week before May 23, 2025.
– Mobile apps: The CBP Home app lets undocumented people tell the government they plan to leave the United States 🇺🇸 voluntarily.
According to Venezuelan media, 4,711 Venezuelan migrants have been returned to Venezuela, most of them deported by the Trump administration since February 2025.
What Do These Policies Mean for Hispanic Communities?
The impact of these policies is deeply felt in Hispanic communities across the United States 🇺🇸. A Pew Research Center survey from February to March 2025 found that 42% of Hispanic adults worry that they or someone close to them could be deported. This level of concern is similar to what was seen during President Biden’s time in office and the later years of Trump’s first term.
- Latino immigrants and those born in the United States 🇺🇸 to immigrant parents are more likely to worry about deportation than those whose families have been in the country for generations.
- Latinos are more concerned about deportations than Asian, Black, or White adults.
These worries affect families, schools, workplaces, and entire communities. Children may fear losing a parent. Workers may be afraid to report abuse or unsafe conditions. Families may avoid seeking medical care or help from the police.
Expert Perspectives: What Do Analysts Say?
Immigration experts offer different views on the current situation:
- Tom Cartwright from Witness at the Border says that deportation rates under President Trump so far are “around the same level” as during the Biden administration, with about six deportation flights per weekday.
- Some analysts call President Biden the “returner in chief” because of his focus on border returns rather than removing people from inside the country.
- The Trump administration’s approach is compared to the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, which also focused on returning large numbers of migrants during times of high border arrivals.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these patterns show that both administrations have used different tools and strategies, but the overall effect is a high number of deportations and returns, especially for Mexican citizens.
Why Are the Numbers So Different?
Several factors explain the differences in deportation numbers between the two administrations:
- Policy Focus: Biden’s administration focused on quick returns at the border, especially for Mexican citizens. Trump’s administration is targeting a wider range of people, including those from other countries and those living inside the United States 🇺🇸.
- Border Crossings: Fewer people are trying to cross the border now, which means fewer people are being caught and deported at the border.
- Enforcement Methods: Trump’s administration is using more formal removal processes, which take longer and may result in lower numbers in the short term.
- International Agreements: The United States 🇺🇸 works with Mexico 🇲🇽 and other countries to accept deported citizens, which can affect how many people are returned or removed.
What Are the Implications for Immigrants and Their Families?
For immigrants, especially those from Mexico 🇲🇽 and Central America, these policies have real-life consequences:
- Increased Fear: Many people live in fear of being deported or losing a family member.
- Legal Confusion: Changing rules and enforcement priorities make it hard to know what to expect or how to prepare.
- Economic Impact: Deportations can separate breadwinners from their families, leading to financial hardship.
- Community Trust: Fear of deportation can make people less likely to report crimes, seek medical care, or participate in community life.
Employers, schools, and local governments also feel the effects. Businesses may lose workers. Schools may see children struggling with anxiety. Local governments may have to provide more support to families left behind.
What Should Immigrants and Their Families Do?
If you or someone you know is worried about deportation, here are some practical steps to consider:
- Know Your Rights: Learn about your rights during encounters with immigration officers. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offers helpful resources on what to do if you are stopped by immigration or police officers.
- Seek Legal Help: Talk to a trusted immigration attorney or accredited representative. They can help you understand your options and prepare for possible changes.
- Stay Informed: Follow updates from official sources like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security. You can find the latest information on deportation and removal processes on the official DHS website.
- Prepare Documents: Keep important documents, such as passports, birth certificates, and legal papers, in a safe place.
- Make a Family Plan: Talk with your family about what to do if someone is detained or deported. Make sure children know who to call and where to go for help.
For those facing removal proceedings, it’s important to understand the process. The main form used to start removal proceedings is the Notice to Appear (Form I-862). You can find the official version of this form on the USCIS website.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for U.S. Deportation Policy?
Deportation patterns are still changing as the Trump administration continues to roll out its immigration policies. While the administration claims to be tough on immigration, the actual number of Mexican citizens deported so far is lower than during President Biden’s time in office, mainly because of the sharp drop in border crossings and a broader focus on people from other countries.
It’s important to remember that these numbers can change quickly as new policies are introduced, court decisions are made, and international agreements shift. Comprehensive, up-to-date data covering identical time periods will be needed to make a full comparison in the future.
Key Takeaways:
– President Trump’s administration has deported fewer Mexican citizens so far than President Biden did during similar periods.
– Biden’s administration focused on quick border returns, especially for Mexican nationals, while Trump’s current approach targets a wider range of people and uses more formal removal processes.
– Hispanic communities continue to feel high levels of fear and uncertainty about deportation, regardless of which administration is in power.
– Immigrants and their families should stay informed, know their rights, and seek legal help to protect themselves.
For more detailed analysis and ongoing updates, you can visit the Department of Homeland Security’s official statistics page.
By understanding the facts and staying prepared, immigrants and their supporters can better face the challenges of changing deportation policies in the United States 🇺🇸.
Learn Today
Deportation → The formal process of removing a non-citizen from a country.
Return → Sending someone back across the border without formal court proceedings.
Removal → A formal deportation process requiring legal orders to leave the country.
Title 42 → A public health policy used to quickly expel migrants at the border.
Expedited Removal → A fast-track deportation process without full court hearings.
This Article in a Nutshell
Trump’s 2025 deportations show fewer Mexican citizens removed compared to Biden, highlighting contrasting immigration enforcement methods and impacts on Hispanic communities across the U.S.
— By VisaVerge.com
