Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2010 Key Findings

Every year, the Department of Homeland Security releases a report on immigration enforcement statistics that encompasses all DHS actions for the year, including arrests, detentions, returns and removals of foreign nationals from the US.

Hundreds of thousands of immigrants are deported from the US every year under the supervision of DHS.

The 2010 report, which was recently released, reflects a serious decline in border apprehensions. This trend suggests a decline in illegal immigration to the US. The decline could be due to increased deportations and heightened security at US borders, or it could mean that the US’s fragile economy since the mortgage crisis of 2008 has made the US an unattractive place to find jobs.

Either way, here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Immigration Enforcement Actions:  2010

• 517,000 aliens were apprehended at US borders. This marks a decrease in total apprehensions for the fifth consecutive year. Of these apprehensions, 97%  were along the Southwest border. Mexican nationals accounted for 83% of the total apprehensions. The next leading countries were Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. These four countries accounted for 94% of all apprehensions.

• Approximately 363,000 aliens were placed in detention in 2010. Mexican nationals accounted for 61% of the total. The next leading countries by nationality of detainees were El Salvador (11%), Guatemala (10%) and Honduras (8%).

• DHS deported 387,000 aliens from the US in 2010.The leading countries of origin of those removed were Mexico (73%), Guatemala (8%), Honduras (6%) and El Salvador (5%)

Of the total number of aliens deported:

• 29% were processed through expedited removals. This category of removal is reserved for aliens who do not have valid entry documents or have attempted to enter the US by fraud.

• 34% were processed through reinstatements of previous removal orders, up 30% from 2009. Reinstatements are reserved for aliens who were previously removed from the US. DHS officers may deport an alien under a prior order of deportation without further hearing or review.

• Approximately 169,000 aliens with criminal convictions were deported from the US through the Criminal Alien Program (CAP). CAP, enforced by ICE, is responsible for identifying and removing aliens incarcerated in federal, state and local prisons throughout the US.  In 2010, CAP initiated removal of 223,217 aliens.

• DHS returned 476,000 aliens to their home countries without a final removal order. This is the sixth consecutive year in which returns declined, primarily due to decreases in Southwest border apprehensions. The leading nationalities include:  Mexicans and Canadians (81%), Filipinos (4%) and Chinese (3%).