The headlines scream of a deportation crisis, but let’s be honest: there would be no deportation dilemma if the Biden administration hadn’t sparked the greatest immigration crisis in modern U.S. history. The real emergency began long before Donald Trump’s enforcement orders or ICE’s recent surge in arrests. It began at the southern border on January 20, 2021—the day President Biden began reversing every successful Trump-era immigration policy.
10.8 Million Encounters—A Crisis of Choice, Not Chance
Between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded more than 10.8 million migrant encounters, an unprecedented figure in American history. This wasn’t the result of global chaos alone—it was the direct result of policy decisions. Biden halted border wall construction, ended the “Remain in Mexico” program, and attempted to freeze deportations in his early days. The message was clear: “Come on in, and you might get to stay.”
And they did.
Compare this to the entire four years of the Trump administration, which saw just over 3.3 million encounters in total. That means the Biden administration tripled the inflow in the same amount of time, overwhelming border facilities, immigration courts, and communities across the nation.
The Hidden Toll: Gotaways and Displacement
It gets worse. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that over 1.5 million migrants evaded apprehension between FY2021 and FY2023—these so-called “gotaways” disappeared into the country with no vetting, no background checks, and no accountability. That’s roughly equivalent to the population of Phoenix, Arizona, simply walking into the U.S. without a trace.
The result? Overcrowded cities, strained public resources, and working-class Americans—often minorities—being undercut in job markets and priced out of housing. Sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago, once proud of their open-door policies, are now begging for federal help.
Deportation Surge: Cleaning Up the Mess
Enter Trump’s second-term enforcement campaign. ICE, under Trump’s reinstated policies, deported over 65,000 individuals in just the first 100 days. Over 2,200 gang members and more than 1,300 individuals with sex offense charges have been removed from the country. Those aren’t “families seeking a better life”—they’re dangerous criminals who should never have crossed the border in the first place.
And yet, critics cry foul over a “deportation crisis,” citing due process violations and human rights concerns. These concerns, while worth examining, ignore the larger truth: America is reacting to a disaster of the Biden administration’s own making. When you invite 11 million people to storm your gates without vetting, you don’t get to complain when some are escorted out.
Legal Pathways as Loopholes
The Biden administration didn’t just open the border—it redefined it. Through the CBP One app and humanitarian parole programs, over 800,000 migrants were granted legal entry outside of the traditional immigration system. While marketed as humane solutions, these programs created a shadow immigration network where the rule of law was suspended in favor of political expedience.
The predictable outcome: a border in chaos, an immigration court system in collapse, and a desperate need for enforcement.
The Cost of Compassion Without Order
Biden’s defenders claim he was simply restoring compassion to immigration policy. But compassion without order is not humanitarianism—it’s negligence. Policies must protect both the vulnerable seeking refuge and the citizens footing the bill.
And now, as the deportation numbers rise under Trump’s rebooted policies, critics demand to know why America is being “inhumane.” The real question is: why weren’t they asking this when Biden invited millions to enter illegally, knowing full well the system couldn’t support it?
Conclusion: Accountability First
Let’s be clear. A nation that cannot enforce its borders is a nation in decline. The current deportation surge may feel uncomfortable, but it’s a bitter medicine to cure a self-inflicted wound. The Biden administration didn’t just mismanage the border—they ignited a crisis that now demands an urgent and forceful response.
There would be no deportation crisis if there hadn’t been an immigration crisis first. And there would be no immigration crisis if the Biden administration had simply upheld the law.
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