US gov’t deported 240,000 illegal immigrants in 2016

In this July 24, 2013, file photo, demonstrators rally in front of the White House in Washington, in favor of immigration reform. With just weeks left in office the pressure is mounting for President Barack Obama to do something _ anything _ to solidify the future of hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the country as children who could face imminent deportation under the Trump administration. AP

WASHINGTON, United States — The Obama administration has deported 240,255 immigrants over the past 12 months, a 2 percent increase over 2015.

But while the number of deportations was greater than last year, it was a sharp decrease from 2014.

Commenting on the statistics released Friday, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said his department remains focused on finding and deporting immigrants who pose a national security or public safety threat, those who have serious criminal records, and those who recently crossed the Mexican border.

Of those deported, 58 percent had criminal convictions. This was little changed from the 59 percent recorded last year and 56 percent in 2014.

President-elect Donald Trump made illegal immigration a cornerstone of his campaign, promising to deport millions of people living in the country illegally. CBB