WASHINGTON — With President-elect Donald Trump taking office in 31 days and pledging to begin mass deportations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported the removal of 271,484 noncitizens to 192 different countries during the 2024 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

It was the highest level of deportations in a decade and a 90% increase from 2023. 

What You Need To Know

  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported the removal of 271,484 noncitizens to 192 different countries during the 2024 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30

  • It was the highest level of deportations in a decade and a 90% increase from 2023

  • More than 30% of those removed had criminal histories with an average of 5.63 convictions or charges per individual, the agency said

  • Mexico was the top destination for noncitizen deportations, accounting for about 87,000 removals

More than 30% of those removed had criminal histories with an average of 5.63 convictions or charges per individual, the agency said. Many had been charged or convicted for assault, sexual assault, burglaries and weapons offenses. Some individuals ICE arrested were wanted in their home countries for crimes including terrorism and torture. 

In its annual report released Thursday, ICE credited the rise in noncitizen removals to an increase in deportation flights and streamlined procedures to return them to their home countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. 

Mexico was the top destination for noncitizen deportations, accounting for about 87,000 removals. followed by around 67,000 to Guatemala and about 46,000 to Honduras, the report said. Mexico and Central American countries are expected to continue to bear the brunt of deportations, partly because those governments more readily accept their respective citizens than some others and logistics are easier.

The agency had its first large flight to China in six years and also had planes stop in Albania, Angola, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Mauritania, Romania, Senegal, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

ICE detained an average of 37,700 people a day over the recent 12-month period, a number determined by congressional funding. With detention space a potential hurdle for mass deportations, the state of Texas is offering rural land as a staging area.

ICE made 113,431 arrests during the latest period, down 34% from 170,590 a year earlier. The agency said a need to focus resources on the border with Mexico diverted attention from making arrests in the country's interior.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.