Why Deportation Numbers Used to Be So High — And Why They’re Different Now
Why were deportations so high before Donald Trump — and why do the numbers look so different today? In this episode of Behind the Line Podcast, we break down the real mechanics behind U.S. immigration enforcement and deportation statistics. From Bush- and Obama-era border apprehensions that rapidly converted into ICE removals, to the Secure Communities fingerprint pipeline that drove record deportation totals, we explain why earlier administrations produced higher numbers without relying on mass raids or rhetoric. We also examine how asylum policy changes, court backlogs, and enforcement…
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