Fact Check: "ICE has erroneously deported at least 70 US citizens between 2015 and 2020."
What We Know
The claim that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has erroneously deported at least 70 U.S. citizens between 2015 and 2020 is supported by a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). According to the report, ICE data indicates that from fiscal year 2015 through the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, ICE arrested 674 individuals, detained 121, and removed 70 potential U.S. citizens (GAO Report). The report highlights that while ICE has policies for investigating citizenship, inconsistencies in their guidance and a lack of systematic tracking contribute to these errors (GAO Report).
Furthermore, a blog post from the American Immigration Council reiterates these findings, stating that ICE has made "inexcusable errors" by deporting U.S. citizens, which is not permissible under civil immigration law (American Immigration Council).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from a credible source—the GAO, which is a nonpartisan agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for the U.S. Congress. The GAO's findings are based on a thorough analysis of ICE's enforcement data and policies. They concluded that ICE's inconsistent guidance and failure to systematically track encounters with potential U.S. citizens have led to wrongful deportations (GAO Report).
The American Immigration Council, while also a credible source, has a specific focus on immigration issues and may present information with a particular advocacy perspective. However, their report aligns with the GAO's findings, reinforcing the claim's validity (American Immigration Council).
Additionally, a recent article from Migrant Insider confirms the GAO's findings, stating that ICE has indeed deported at least 70 U.S. citizens during the specified timeframe, emphasizing the systemic failures within ICE that have not been adequately addressed (Migrant Insider).
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that ICE has erroneously deported at least 70 U.S. citizens between 2015 and 2020 is true, as supported by multiple credible sources, including the GAO and relevant immigration advocacy organizations. The evidence indicates systemic issues within ICE that have led to these wrongful deportations, and the agency has not implemented sufficient measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Sources
- Immigration Enforcement: - U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO)
- ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- ICE – Wikipedia
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