Deporter in Chief? That title belongs to others

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“Nice try, barry, but not even close”

Snopes:

Claim:

During the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, immigration authorities deported more than 3 million people, 75% to 83% of whom did not see a judge or have the opportunity to plead their case.

In short, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data from fiscal years 2009 to 2016, more than 3 million individuals were formally removed during the Obama administration. Including returns, cases in which noncitizens left the U.S. voluntarily or after withdrawing their application for admission without undergoing formal removal proceedings, the total number of departures exceeded 5 million.

Claims that 75% to 83% of those deported "never saw a judge or had a chance to plead their case" are based on statistics from individual years, particularly 2012 and 2013. These percentages refer to so-called "summary removals" carried out through legal procedures such as "expedited removal" and "reinstatement of removal," which do not involve a hearing before an immigration judge. From 2009 to 2016, these two categories combined made up anywhere between 58% and 84% of all formal removals annually, averaging about 74% over the entire period. 

Here’s neutral summery of the Obama — Trump records from an organization I’d never heard of, The Voices Heard Foundation:

Deportations and Due Process: Comparing Obama and Trump Policies

Obama’s Deportation Record

From 2009 to 2016, Obama’s administration deported around 3.2 million immigrants through formal removal orders, with a total of 5.24 million removals and voluntary returns. The focus was on criminals and recent border crossers, earning Obama the nickname “deporter-in-chief” from critics like the ACLU. In 2013 alone, 438,421 deportations occurred, per the Migration Policy Institute. Supporters said this targeted dangerous individuals, but critics argued it tore apart families and ignored immigrants’ rights.

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Due Process Under Obama

A major issue was the lack of due process. About 75–83% of deportations were nonjudicial, meaning they skipped immigration court. In 2012, roughly 313,000 of 419,000 deportations happened without a judge’s review, according to ACLU data. These “expedited removals” often left immigrants without lawyers or a chance to appeal. For example, many long-term U.S. residents were deported after minor offenses, with no opportunity to argue their case. Critics said this violated fairness, while defenders claimed it was efficient for border security.

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Trump’s Deportation Policies

As of April 2025, Trump’s second term has ramped up deportation plans, aiming to remove millions, including criminals and undocumented immigrants. His 2017–2021 term saw about 1 million deportations, far fewer than Obama’s, but his current rhetoric promises a larger scale. ICE operations have expanded, targeting workplaces and communities, per recent web reports. Like Obama, Trump prioritizes criminals but also casts a wider net, raising fears of mass deportations.
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Due Process Concerns with Trump

Trump’s policies face backlash for bypassing due process, much like Obama’s. Web sources, including NPR, note that expedited removals remain common, with many immigrants detained and deported without hearings. In 2019, 64% of deportations were nonjudicial, per the Migration Policy Institute. Critics argue Trump’s aggressive ICE raids and proposed “deportation camps” risk deporting people with U.S. ties without fair trials. Supporters say it’s necessary for law enforcement, but groups like the ACLU warn of human rights violations.
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Conclusion

Obama’s 3.2 million deportations, with 75–83% lacking due process, set a precedent for efficient but controversial immigration enforcement. Trump’s ongoing policies, echoing this approach, face similar scrutiny for prioritizing speed over fairness. The debate remains heated: how should the U.S. balance security and justice? Understanding these facts helps clarify the challenges both administrations faced.

FWIW:

Trump v Obama is a fun debate, but neither the Light Bringer nor Orange Man is the all-time Depo King: that title belongs to Bill Clinton, followed closely by Bush II, and finishing the trifecta, Sleepy Joe’s handlers.