Biden administration removed 71% fewer criminal aliens compared to comparable period under Trump

Over its first nine months, the Biden administration removed 71% fewer locally arrested criminal aliens than were deported during a comparable period in 2019 under Donald Trump, according to a new study of state and local statistics — despite record illegal immigration numbers. 

Meanwhile, the number of removals overall declined from 186,000 in fiscal year 2020 to 59,000 the following fiscal year, the Center for Immigration Studies found in an analysis published last week.

Deportations of convicted felons also declined 25% from 36,000 in fiscal year 2020 to 27,000 in fiscal year 2021.

The study found that 51 jurisdictions "experienced acute declines" with criminal removals down more than 90%. 

The group used Howard County, Texas, which exactly matched the national deportation rate decline of 71%, to capture in microcosm the public safety implications of the Biden administration's policies. 

"Howard County likely is experiencing some degree of repeated crime from those criminal aliens who continue to offend and victimize community members after ICE declined to take action to remove them," the Center for Immigration Studies said. 

Republicans, such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, are calling on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign over his handling of the border crisis. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection agents encountered a record 2.4 million migrants last fiscal year.