We have deported on average about 300,000 illegal aliens each year for the past 15 years.
I say we step up the deportation of those who commit crimes and then figure our what to do to make the others legal and at least issue green cards. We need to shut down the border to new illegals.
https://www.ice.gov/removal-statistics/2016
Definitions of Key ICE Terms
Arrest: An arrest, also called an apprehension, is defined as the ?act of detaining an individual by legal authority based on an alleged violation of the law.?
Border Removal: An individual removed by ICE who is apprehended by a CBP officer or agent while attempting to illicitly enter the United States at or between the ports of entry. These individuals are also referred to as recent border crossers.
Convicted Criminal: An individual convicted in the United States for one or more criminal offenses. This does not include civil traffic offenses.
Immigration Fugitives: An individual who has failed to leave the United States based on a final order of removal, deportation, or exclusion, or has failed to report to ICE after receiving notice to do so.
Intake: An intake is the first book-in into an ICE detention facility associated with a unique detention stay. This does not include transfers between ICE facilities.
Interior Removal: An individual removed by ICE who is identified or apprehended in the United States by an ICE officer or agent. This category excludes those apprehended at the immediate border while attempting to unlawfully enter the United States.
Other Removable Alien: An individual who is not a confirmed convicted criminal, recent border crosser or other ICE civil enforcement priority category. This category may include individuals removed on national security grounds or for general immigration violations.
Previously Removed Alien: An individual previously removed or returned who has re-entered the country illegally.
Reinstatement of prior Removal Order: The removal of an alien based on the reinstatement of a prior removal order, where the alien departed the United States under an order of removal and illegally reentered the United States (INA ? 241(a)(5)). The alien may be removed without a hearing before an immigration court.
Removal: The compulsory and confirmed movement of an inadmissible or deportable alien out of the United States based on an order of removal. An individual who is removed may have administrative or criminal consequences placed on subsequent reentry because of the removal. ICE removals include removals and returns where aliens were turned over to ICE for removal efforts.
Return: The confirmed movement of a potentially inadmissible or deportable alien out of the United States not based on an order of removal, but through either voluntary departure, voluntary return, or withdrawal under docket control.