In 2014, unprecedented legislation on immigration reform was signed into law. The legislation, which was opposed by many, granted relief from deportation for more than four million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. As a result, those who support deportation have argued that Obama’s immigration policy is too soft, and that it doesn’t address the real problem. However, the number of illegal immigrants deported under the Obama administration suggests otherwise. If you’re facing deportation in Boston, the attorneys at Goldstein Immigration Lawyers can help.
Obama Under Fire for Large Numbers of Deportations
The numbers don’t lie: President Obama has deported more illegal aliens during the past seven years than did his predecessors, including former President George Bush, who is notorious as a president with a tough stance on immigration. In 2013 alone, the number of immigrants deported reached an all time high, with a whopping 438,421 illegal aliens leaving the country by force that year. In 2014, nearly 600,000 immigrants were deported. In fact, since Obama took office, more than two million deportations have occurred.
Why the increase in deportations?
Illegal immigrants may face deportation for a number of reasons – one of the most common of these reasons is criminal conviction. However, criminal conviction alone isn’t the cause of the upsurge in deportation numbers under the Obama administration; in 2013, for example, 240,000 of the deported immigrants had no criminal conviction.
One cause for the increase in deportations can be contributed to the fact that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has taken a more active role in the process. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations declined by 19 percent in 2012, and another 22 percent in 2013. Another reason is the fact that in 2013, more than 80 percent of all deportations happened sans a hearing before a judge. Finally, the numbers may be explained by the fact that as the illegal immigrant population in the U.S. has grown, so has the number of deportations.
Upcoming Plans for Immigration Action in the U.S.
With new changes to immigration reform, it’s possible that the number of immigrants deported will start to decline – the legislation grants deportation relief to nearly five million people, most of whom are the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens. Still, though, many civil rights groups have stated that some of the deportations that have occurred have been unconstitutional, and are asking for reform.
Speak with a Boston Immigration Attorney if You’re Facing Deportation
If you’re facing deportation in Boston, you may be feeling scared, worried, and unsure of what you should do. At Goldstein Immigration Lawyers our attorneys are passionate about making sure that your rights are protected. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us now at 617-722-0005.
Sharing is caring:
