Deportations of illegal aliens declined by 25% in 2015 according to an annual report released by the Department of Homeland Security earlier today. In 2014 DHS reported 315,943 deportations compared to 235,413 in 2015.
Interior deportations declined by 31% from 100,114 in 2014 to 69,478 in 2015. The report also showed that the number of criminal aliens deported decreased by 27% from 86,923 in 2014 to 63,127 in 2015.
This decline comes after Assistant Homeland Security Secretary, Sarah R. Saldana, testified to Congress that ICE had given away $113 million that was specifically designated for deportations while also admitting that more than 179,000 illegal aliens who have committed crimes are roaming free in the United States.
She also testified that she was “proud” of the increase in criminal alien deportations. However, the report shows that while the percentage of deportations that are criminals has increased the total number of criminal aliens deported has decreased.
CIS Director of Policy Studies Jessica Vaughan predicts that, "we are likely to see a further drop in deportations in the coming year, following the implementation of the administration's Priority Enforcement Program. Known as PEP, this program further limits ICE officers, requiring them to ignore prior deportees and other deportable aliens who were formerly priorities, and explicitly allows state and local governments to obstruct enforcement with sanctuary policies."
For more information on the DHS report go to CIS.org.
