US immigration authorities last year deported the largest number of undocumented immigrants in nearly a decade, surpassing the record set by Donald Trump's first term in office.
According to foreign media, more than 271,000 immigrants were deported from the US during the last fiscal year, according to a report released by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency on Thursday.
The ICE report comes just weeks before President-elect Trump, who plans to make mass deportation a cornerstone of his next administration, takes office.
President Joe Biden in 2021 had pledged to end deportations, but his administration ended up expanding it after an increase in border crossings.
In the newly released report, ICE said the large increase in deportations last fiscal year was partly the result of a streamlined process.
More deportation flights went to more distant destinations, including Africa and Asia, which had not accepted deportations from the US for years, the agency said.
The majority of deportations in fiscal year 2024 involved migrants apprehended by border officials as opposed to those apprehended by ICE in the U.S. interior.
Roughly 82% of the 271,000 immigrants deported that year were apprehended by border agents.
President-elect Trump has vowed to launch "the largest deportation operation in history" when he returns to office on January 20.
These promises, however, are likely to face major logistical and financial challenges, writes A2 CNN. (A2 Televizion)
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