| Between 2010 and 2015, approximately 91% of individuals deported from the United States during the Obama administration had prior criminal convictions, totaling more than 2.7 million deportees. According to the TRAC Center at Syracuse University, the total number of removals conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during this period was around 3.1 million. |
Over the last decade, the United States has welcomed an annual average of more than 1.1 million legal immigrants. Legal immigration —especially those involving employment contracts— would be significantly higher if not for the diminished job opportunities created by companies that hire illegal immigrants. These companies often exploit illegal workers by paying them low wages and offering no health benefits or paid vacation.
This issue intensified dramatically during the Biden administration, as the number of illegal entries surged to levels nearly four times greater than those during the first Trump administration. It is estimated that the number of illegal immigrants surpassed 11 million, though the actual figure is likely much higher, as entire caravans sometimes crossed through remote areas under the cover of night.
The plight of children entering the country without adult protection is nothing short of heartbreaking; about 546,000 have been accounted for — many of whom were rescued through the dedicated search efforts of immigration authorities. These efforts also exposed the horrifying existence of child prostitution rings, highlighting a critical issue that demands proper attention.
A U.S. Inmigration Patrol agent (ICE) processes 'asylum-seeking'
unaccompanied minors on March 17, 2021
Furthermore, the American Immigration Council projected that by the end of 2024, around 15.8 million people had settled in the country illegally. Alarmingly, a significant yet often overlooked fact is that approximately 7% of these undocumented immigrants have committed crimes, with many boasting prior criminal records. While this percentage might sound minimal, it translates to a staggering figure: roughly 111,000 individuals, according to research from the Migration Policy Institute. This urgent matter requires a thorough examination and immediate action to ensure the safety of US communities.
Despite this huge problem, there are persistent calls for a highly selective approach—involving judicial oversight—to carry out deportations. This strategy may have been manageable when the number of individuals at risk of deportation was limited to 2 or 3 million. However, the staggering current numbers surpass our administrative and judicial capacities, making it nearly impossible to address each case individually. Pursuing this path could lead to decades of litigation and cost taxpayers billions of dollars. 
This crisis, which hampers efforts to fairly assess who should be deported and who may deserve a chance to regularize their status, is exacerbated following the recent sweeping victory of the Democratic Party in the legislative elections. This outcome has fueled further illegal immigration, as demonstrated by two caravans of thousands of people —organized by 15 activists who have been identified— setting out from Central America just three days after the elections. These individuals are aiming to reach the U.S. border by January, driven by hope that entry will be easier or even open by then.
Faced with this overwhelming situation, the US government is offering those living in the country illegally a compelling opportunity for "self-deportation" through the "Return Home Project." This initiative provides a subsidy of about $3,000 per person, along with covered travel expenses, contingent upon confirming their return to their home country. Additionally, participants can begin the legal re-entry process into the United States through the appropriate consulates in their countries. These solutions strike a balance between compassion and practicality, ensuring a fair and effective approach to a proper immigration process.
This is a straightforward and practical solution, grounded in reality rather than the propaganda driven by political and economic interests.