Although illegal immigration into the United States has been down lately, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set several records for deportations in 2011, according to a new report from the Office of Immigration Statistics.

According to the report, only 340,000 illegal immigrants were detained at the U.S.-Mexico border last year, the lowest number since 1971, yet Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE) apprehended a record 429,000 total undocumented aliens. DHS returned 324,000 foreign nationals to their homes without a removal order, and removed another 392,000 foreign nationals from the U.S., mainly to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, for a total of 716,000 sent back. “Removal” is the latest word of choice for “deportation.”

Consistent with the Obama administration’s policy of focusing deportation policy on those with prior criminal records, in 2011 the U.S. expelled a record 188,000 immigrants with criminal records, 55% of all those returned without a removal order. The majority of these were charged with drug-related offenses, criminal traffic offenses (such as hit-and-run and driving under the influence) and immigration violations.

-Matt Bewig

To Learn More:

Report: Number of Undocumented Immigrants Arrested and Deported in 2011 Hits Record High (by Alfonso Chardy, Miami Herald)

Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2011 Annual Report (by John Simanski and Lesley M. Sapp, Department of Homeland Security) (pdf)

Federal Court Blasts U.S. Attorney for Deporting Witnesses (by Matt Bewig, AllGov)

Obama Administration Steps up Deportations in an Election Year…Again (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)