The act by a government of forcing someone to leave a country because they don’t have the legal right to be there. The word deportation comes from the Latin words, “to expel.” Deportation is often used to describe someone who has been sent home because they violated immigration laws or their stay in a country was illegally extended.
Most people who are deported have committed serious crimes. But it’s not only criminal immigrants who face deportation; even unauthorized residents can be deported if the federal government determines that their presence in the United States is a threat to public safety. In fact, the Trump administration has reversed Biden-era limits on expedited removal, which could lead to the mass deportation of millions of Americans.
The deportation process begins with an individual hearing in which ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) presents its case that the person should be removed. The immigrant has the opportunity to present defenses and call witnesses. If the judge rules in favor of deportation, they will give the immigrant a final order and ICE will handle transportation and departure from the United States.
Those who have an order of deportation can appeal the decision. They may also apply for voluntary departure, which allows them to leave the United States at their own expense and be returned to their country of origin. Some people who are deported have significant debts they incurred while working in the United States and may have trouble reestablishing footholds in their home countries, contributing to cycles of migration that undermine the original intended purpose of return policies.
If a country is unable to accommodate deportationees, they can apply for a humanitarian asylum status, which allows them to travel to another country where they can live without fear of persecution and are more likely to be able to provide for themselves. People who are deemed to be a threat to national security or public safety can request an expedited removal hearing and, if granted, their cases are heard within 60 days.
Many immigrants whose removal orders are being considered by an immigration judge must wait for months or longer to have their cases heard. The current administration is putting pressure on immigration judges to get these cases completed and is granting fewer continuances to people who need to pursue benefits they are entitled to.
If the United States were to carry out a mass deportation of undocumented residents, it would cause huge economic damage. Millions of workers would be removed from essential sectors of the economy, creating labor shortages and causing businesses to cut back on hiring. This, in turn, would reduce economic output and raise prices for all Americans. It would also have devastating impacts on families of unauthorized immigrants, including U.S. citizens, because so many families live in mixed-status households. Removing unauthorized family members would have enormous physical, emotional, and developmental consequences for children and destabilize entire communities.