Deportation, or being removed from the United States, is a complex process that can have serious consequences for individuals and families. NPR spoke with experts and lawyers, and reviewed government data, to break down the steps involved.
Deportations can have many causes, including criminal convictions, immigration violations, and even civil violations such as fraud or misrepresentation when applying for a visa. The process of removing noncitizens from the country begins when the government initiates removal proceedings. The government must then identify, arrest and remove the individual, all within the bounds of the law.
The president sets ICE’s deportation priorities, and the president’s policies can change how likely an individual is to be deported. For example, under Obama and Trump, the government has shifted to prioritize deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories over those without criminal records.
Once a deportation case is initiated, the individual has an opportunity to request relief or have a hearing before an immigration judge. During this hearing, the judge will review the facts of the case and evidence and consider any arguments made by the individual or their lawyer. The judge may grant relief, or they may order the individual to be deported.
If the judge orders the individual to be deported, the individual will receive a notice of removal, which tells them their day to be transported from the country (called a “bag and baggage letter”). The government pays for the travel costs of the deportee.
For most people, being ordered to be deported means living a life outside of the country they love. They will have to say goodbye to their friends, colleagues and family. They will need to pack up the things they want to take with them, and find a new place to live. Many will have to start over in a foreign land where they might not know the language, and where they will be exposed to potential dangers and hardships.
Currently, the federal government spends billions of dollars each year to identify, detain and deport individuals in the country without legal status. In addition, the current administration has loosened rules and increased the number of people eligible for deportation.
Mass deportations would be an expensive and complicated endeavor that could create enormous social and economic harm. It would require a massive expansion of immigration enforcement and raids, separate families, and cause trauma to communities. It would also strain local law enforcement resources and divert them from addressing crime and public safety concerns and away from their traditional roles in national security and disaster response.
Moreover, it would force millions of children to choose between their parents and deport them, creating lasting trauma and dislocation for families and entire communities. It would also negatively impact the economy by depriving sectors of the labor market of essential workers, reducing productivity and raising consumer prices. Finally, it would be incredibly costly for taxpayers, potentially lowering GDP and decreasing tax revenues. Ultimately, deporting all 11 million unauthorized immigrants would be impractical and would be bad for the nation’s economy, security, and society.