The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Get PolitiFact in your inbox. * Weekly Email Newsletter * Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on September 29, 2023 in a speech: Six million or 7 million people have “come illegally under Biden.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" mostly-false/6a6ef6075c162fdccf5eb960e683dcd1.jpg.\\") ![\\"barely- true\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") * Immigration * National * Florida * Ron DeSantis ![\\"Migrants](\\" Migrants who crossed into the U.S. from Mexico are met with concertina wire along the Rio Grande, Sept. 21, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP) ![\\"Marta](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus October 4, 2023 ![\\"Samantha](\\" By Samantha Putterman October 4, 2023 # Ron DeSantis exaggerates number of migrants in US illegally under President Joe Biden #### If Your Time is short * During Joe Biden’s presidency, U.S. immigration authorities have encountered migrants about 7.2 million times at and between ports of entry. But that figure doesn’t show how many migrants entered and remained in the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s encounter data tracks events, not people, and the same person can be recorded multiple times for repeated attempts to cross the border. * The encounter data also does not reflect expulsions. From February 2021 to May 2023, there were about 2.5 million expulsions under Title 42, a COVID-19 pandemic-era policy that allowed officials to quickly expel migrants. Besides the Title 42 removals, about 591,000 removals have been initiated by border authorities during Biden’s tenure. See the sources for this fact-check Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently vowed that, if elected president, he will deport all migrants who have entered the U.S. illegally under President Joe Biden. \"Everyone that has come illegally under Biden, we gotta, we’ll send them back. That’s going to be first priority,\" DeSantis said at a Sept. 29 campaign event in California. \"That’s probably 6 or 7 million people right there. It’s going to require a lot of effort.\" But DeSantis is conflating the number of times border patrol agents have encountered migrants at the border with the number of migrants who entered and remain in the country, an error also made by others who previously vied for the Republican presidential nomination. When contacted for comment, DeSantis’ campaign pointed us to his immigration policy, which outlines broad plans to handle deportations, including hiring \"more border patrol agents and more removal agents\" and allowing \"ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers to do their jobs.\" What is not reflected in DeSantis’ figure U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows that the figures DeSantis cited are close to the nationwide number of migrant encounters at and between ports of entry since Biden took office. But that figure doesn’t show how many migrants remained in the U.S. Biden was inaugurated Jan. 20, 2021. From February 2021 through August 2023, there were about 7.2 million encounters across all points of entry nationwide, CBP’s data shows. Encounter data does not reflect the number of individual immigrants stopped. For example, if one person tries to cross the border three times and is stopped each time, that would be counted as three encounters. The data also does not reflect expulsions. \"The CBP encounters include nearly 3 million expulsions — in other words, enforcement activity that ensures people do not remain in the United States,\" said Michelle Mittelstadt, communications director for the Migration Policy Institute, a progressive think tank. Mittelstadt also said some people apprehended at the border are initially detained and eventually removed from the country. CBP data confirms Mittelstadt’s point that millions of encounters led to removals. From February 2021 to May 2023, there were about 2.5 million expulsions under Title 42, a COVID-19 pandemic-era policy that allowed border officials to quickly expel migrants who crossed the southwest border. Besides the Title 42 removals, CBP data shows there have been about 591,000 removals initiated by border authorities during Biden’s tenure. There is no available data that shows the number of migrants who have been allowed to stay in the country after entering. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" JD Vance stated on August 25, 2024 in an interview on NBC\'s \"Meet the Press\" A zero-tolerance policy during the Trump administration \"led to less family separation than under Kamala Harris\' border policies.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Amy Sherman • September 4, 2024 PolitiFact reached out to CBP and the Department of Homeland Security but did not receive a reply. Mass deportations aren’t simple DeSantis is not the only Republican presidential candidate who has promised mass deportations; Former President Donald Trump also made that promise during his tenure, and we rated it Promise Broken. The highest number of deportations in a single year came in 2013, when the Obama administration deported around 438,000 people. Experts say that instituting mass deportations is easier said than done. \"Deporting millions of people summarily is an implausible and fantastical idea that has been brought forward from time to time for political purposes only,\" said Mario Russell, the executive director at the Center for Migration Studies, a nonpartisan think tank. \"It is not practical or achievable as it would require a huge increase in enforcement resources, court expenditures and more,\" said Russell. Our ruling DeSantis said 6 million or 7 million people have \"come illegally under Biden.\" His estimate misrepresents the data. Since Biden took office, border patrol agents have encountered migrants about 7.2 million times at and between ports of entry. But that doesn’t mean that many migrants entered and remained in the U.S. That data shows events, not individuals, and one person can be recorded multiple times. CBP data also shows that millions of encounters led to removals. DeSantis’ statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. We rate it Mostly False. **RELATED:**Experts say Ron DeSantis’ plan to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border wouldn\'t lower fentanyl flow **RELATED:** Birthright citizenship: Could Ron DeSantis end it? And if so, how? **RELATED:** Experts say Ron DeSantis’ plan to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border wouldn\'t lower fentanyl flow #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Ron DeSantis speech in Long Beach, California, Sept. 29, 2023 PolitiFact, Fact-check: Did Fox News debate moderators paint an accurate picture of America?, August 25, 2023 PolitiFact, Francis Suarez’s misleading claim about millions of migrants getting free cellphones, plane tickets, July 28, 2023 PolitiFact, Title 42 expiration: What\'s next for migrants applying for asylum at US’ southern border?, May 8, 2023 RonDeSantis.com, STOP THE INVASION, Accessed Oct. 3, 2023 U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Nationwide Encounters, accessed Oct. 3, 2023 U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Custody and Transfer Statistics FY2023, Accessed Oct. 3, 2023 PolitiFact, Donald Trump does not keep promise to deport all immigrants illegally in the US, July 15, 2020 Pew Research, U.S. deportations of immigrants reach record high in 2013, Oct. 2, 2014 The New York Times, With Unrealistic Immigration Proposals, DeSantis and Trump Try to Outdo Each Other, Oct. 1, 2023 Migration Policy Institute, Mounting Backlogs Undermine U.S. Immigration System and Impede Biden Policy Changes, Feb. 23, 2022 Migration Policy Institute, In the Twilight Zone: Record Number of U.S. Immigrants Are in Limbo Statuses, Aug. 2, 2023 C-SPAN, Department of Homeland Security Oversight Hearing, April 28, 2022 Pew Research, Key facts about the changing U.S. unauthorized immigrant population, April 13, 2021 The White House, Immigration Fact Check: Responding to Key Myths, June 22, 2007 Email interview with Mario Russell, Executive Director of the Center for Migration Studies, Oct. 2, 2023 Email interview, Michelle Mittelstadt, communications directors at the Migration Policy Institute, Oct. 3, 2023 Email interview, Bryan Griffin, press secretary for Ron DeSantis campaign, Oct. 3, 2023 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Marta Campabadal Graus slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on July 24, 2024 in una publicación en X: \"Taylor Swift y Beyoncé se unen para un concierto épico en apoyo a Kamala Harris!\". ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • July 26, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on July 23, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: Bruce Willis murió, 23 de julio de 2024. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • July 25, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on July 21, 2024 in una publicación en X: Imágenes muestran a la subdirectora del FBI Janeen DiGuiseppi sentada detrás del expresidente Donald Trump durante su intento de asesinato. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • July 25, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 11, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: \"ÚLTIMA HORA Río Nilo se pinta de rojo sangre\". ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kamala Harris stated on August 22, 2024 in su discurso de aceptación en la Convención Nacional Demócrata: El expresidente Donald Trump “tiene la intención de promulgar lo que, en efecto, es un impuesto nacional sobre las ventas…que elevaría los precios para las familias de clase media a casi $4,000 al año”. ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Marta Campabadal Graus • September 5, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 21, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: El Dr. Juan Rivera lanza \"una pastilla revolucionaria\" para curar la diabetes. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Marta Campabadal Graus • August 30, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on August 25, 2024 in una publicación en X: Un video muestra un helicóptero distribuyendo “mosquitos genéticos en Massachusetts, Estados Unidos”. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • August 29, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 21, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: “Elon Musk pide la prohibición de ‘The View’, ‘prefiero caminar descalzo sobre asfalto caliente que ver The View’”. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • August 26, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Debbie Mucarsel-Powell stated on August 7, 2024 in un anuncio de radio de campaña: El senador Rick Scott no apoya las excepciones al aborto. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • August 16, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Debbie Mucarsel-Powell stated on August 7, 2024 in an ad: Sen. Rick Scott does not support abortion exceptions. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • August 14, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Lindsey Graham stated on August 6, 2024 in una publicación en X: El gobernador de Minnesota, Tim Walz, firmó una ley dando educación universitaria gratuita “a los inmigrantes ilegales”. ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Maria Briceño • August 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Byron Donalds stated on August 6, 2024 in una entrevista: \"Tim Walz firmó una ley para dar licencia de conducir a inmigrantes ilegales en Minnesota\". ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Maria Briceño • August 9, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Byron Donalds stated on August 6, 2024 in an interview: \"Tim Walz signed into law driver\'s licenses for illegal immigrants in Minnesota.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Maria Briceño • August 9, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on July 31, 2024 in a Facebook post: A plane 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![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 21, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: El Dr. Juan Rivera lanza \"una pastilla revolucionaria\" para curar la diabetes. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Marta Campabadal Graus • August 30, 2024 ### Ron DeSantis exaggerates number of migrants in US illegally under President Joe Biden * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 11, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: Imagen muestra carnet del Partido Comunista de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Maria Briceño • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Sam Brown stated on August 28, 2024 in a campaign appearance: Proposed Nevada constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights would put “essentially no limit on access to abortion.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Caleb McCullough • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Jon Tester stated on 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Six million or 7 million people have come illegally under Biden