Barack Obama’s administration carried out about 2.7 to 3.1 million formal deportations/removals over his eight years in office. Some broader counts that include returns and other enforcement actions go higher, but the commonly cited formal-removal total is around 3 million.

Why the number varies

Different sources count different things. Some track only formal removals ordered by immigration authorities, while others also include returns, expedited removals, and voluntary departures , which can push the total into the 4 to 5+ million range.

Commonly cited figures

  • About 3 million formal removals : the most common headline figure.
  • About 1.6 million during his first four years : a figure cited in earlier reporting on Obama’s first term.
  • Broader totals up to 5.24 million : these include non-removal actions, not just deportations in the strict sense.

Simple answer

If you mean “How many people were deported under Obama?” , the best short answer is roughly 3 million.