Despite Surge in Illegal Immigration, Removals Way Down in 2021

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removals were way down in fiscal year 2021 compared with previous years, according to a report detailing last year’s border removal statistics.

Of course, this is not the result of a lower number of illegal border crossings. As we have previously written, in 2021 the USA saw a massive surge in illegal crossings at our southern border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stats indicate there were over two million illegal immigrants who crossed the border in the calendar year 2021.

A report of ICE Detention Statistics revealed that despite this surge, removals of those who have illegally crossed the border are way down. In fiscal year 2021, only 55,590 illegal immigrants were removed from the USA.

Here are some numbers that show ICE removals over the past few years for context.

ICE Removals by Year

2016: 240,255
2017: 226,199
2018: 256,086
2019: 267,258
2020: 185,884
2021: 55,590
(Note: See bottom of article for links to full reports.)

Despite a record year for illegal border crossings, we’re only removing a fraction of the illegal immigrants from the United States when compared with recent years. This is what disastrous immigration policies look like in action.

Keep in mind that the first four months of FY 2021 were when President Trump was still in office. It’s possible many of these removals from FY 2021 were in the last few months of his administration.

As mentioned by Fox News in their coverage of this ICE report, the Biden admin has been undermining immigration enforcement officials since the new administration took office in January 2021.

Fox’s report summarizes how the administration has restricted immigration agents from making arrests at worksites. Moreover, the Biden administration released a memo stating someone’s illegal status was not, in itself, sufficient basis for making an arrest and deportation.

ICE and CBP officers have been kneecapped by President Biden and not allowed to do their jobs of removing illegal immigrants from the United States.

Apprehending an illegal immigrant is only half the battle. Our immigration laws are useless if those who break them are not sent back to their country of origin.

The Biden administration’s refusal to enforce our immigration laws and remove illegal immigrants from our country will only lead to an even worse crisis at our southern border.

If 2021 is any indication, the issues at our border will only get worse in 2022.

2016-2020 ICE Removal Reports

Removal numbers for FY’s 2016-2018 were pulled from page 10 of this ICE report.
FY 2019 Removal numbers were pulled from this ICE report.
FY 2020 Removal numbers were pulled from this ICE report.