The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system.

The Office of Immigration Statistics released data on immigration enforcement actions in FY 2009 (October 1 through September 30). The report finds that:

  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) apprehended 613,003 foreign nationals, compared to 791,568 in FY2008 and 960,756 in FY2007.
  • Mexican nationals made up the largest percentage of apprehensions (86%), followed by Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, China, Brazil, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Nicaragua.


Border Patrol:

  • Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) was responsible for 91% of all apprehensions, and 97% of CBP apprehensions were along the Southwest border. The Tucson, AZ sector had 45% of all Southwest border apprehensions (241,667), followed by San Diego, CA (118,712); Rio Grande Valley, TX (60,992), Laredo, TX (40,571; El Centro, CA (33,520); and Del Rio, TX (17,082).
  • Apprehensions by the Border Patrol decreased 23% between 2008 and 2009, which corresponds to lower immigration levels during the economic downturn.

Detention:

  • ICE detained a record number of 383,524 foreign nationals in FY2009. Mexican nationals accounted for 63% of all detainees, but because they generally remain detained for short periods, they accounted for only 34% of detention bed days.

Removals:

  • DHS removed a total of 393,289 persons in 2009, which is a 10% increase from the previous year and the 7th consecutive record high. 72% of removals were Mexicans (282,666). The next leading countries were Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.
  • 27% of all removals were “expedited removals,” meaning that the individuals were inadmissible because they didn’t have proper documents and were removed without a hearing before an immigration court.
  • 580,000 persons were returned to their home countries without being placed in immigration proceedings. They are generally non-criminals who are apprehended at the border or port of entry and agree that their entry was illegal and waive their right to a hearing. 85% of returns were Mexican or Canadian immigrants.
  • DHS removed 128,345 immigrants with criminal convictions, including traffic offenses. Those convicted of illegal drug activity, traffic offenses, and criminal immigration violations made up 61% of all criminal removals.

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