Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic has posted on his social media about former President Barack Obama’s deportations during his two terms in office.
“I voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012.
I asked Google AI: Did president Obama deport undocumented immigrants?
Yes, President Barack Obama’s administration deported a significant number of undocumented immigrants, earning him the nickname “Deporter-in-Chief” from some immigrant rights advocates. His administration removed more people from the U.S. than any other president in history at the time.
Key Details:
Total Deportations: Between fiscal years 2009 and 2016, the Obama administration carried out approximately 2.7 million deportations (removals and returns). Other sources place the total number of noncitizens removed during his two terms at about 3 million.
Record Highs: The annual number of deportations peaked in 2012, with nearly 410,000 total deportations, and a record 435,000 in fiscal year 2013, according to some analyses of DHS data.
Enforcement Priorities: The Obama administration shifted enforcement priorities to focus on those considered threats to national security, public safety (convicted of serious crimes), and recent border crossers. In later years, over 90% of interior removals were of individuals with criminal convictions.
DACA: Despite the high deportation numbers, the Obama administration also implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative in 2012, which provided temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
The Obama administration’s approach has been described as a mixed legacy, combining tough enforcement with some forms of relief through executive action.”
