Total deportations of illegal aliens by Immigrations Customs Enforcement from the United States fell precipitously in the past year, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security.
The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it deported the fewest illegal immigrants since 2006. Between October 2014 and September 2015 DHS deported around 235,413 people. At the same time, 337,117 people were arrested trying to cross the border illegally, the Associated Press notes.
Additionally, the AP reports, DHS previously said the drop in deportations by ICE is a result of the decline in arrests at the border.
According to DHS, total deportations, including both border and interior cases, dipped 25 percent from 2014. Interior deportations by ICE fell 31 percent from the last year and deportations of criminal aliens dropped 27 percent from 2014.
Despite the drop in deportations of criminal aliens, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a Tuesday statement, “Last year’s removal numbers reflect this department’s increased focus on prioritizing convicted criminals and threats to public safety, border security and national security.”
![Visual depiction of drastic enforcement illegal alien deportation collapse (Courtesy: Office of Sen. [crscore]Jeff Sessions[/crscore] R-Al.)](https://dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-23-at-3.34.20-PM.png)
Visual depiction of drastic collapse of enforcement of illegal alien deportation (Courtesy: Office of Sen. Jeff Sessions R-Al.)
“Keep in mind, as well, that the deportation of a convicted criminal alien is not a success story but means immigration laws were enforced much too late. The purpose of immigration law is to protect Americans before, not after, they or a loved one have been robbed, assaulted or killed.”