Michelle Obama is raising concerns over the state of immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump — but critics are pointing out an uncomfortable truth: her husband’s administration deported more people than any other in U.S. history.
Speaking on the latest episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty, released Monday, the former First Lady shared that immigration policy is now her biggest source of anxiety. “In this current climate, for me it’s what’s happening to immigrants,” Obama said, referencing the fear many migrants live with — particularly in cities like her native Chicago.
Though she acknowledged her own safety and public profile — “It’s not the fear for myself anymore,” she said — Obama stressed she still worries for her daughters, and especially for immigrants and communities of color navigating an increasingly hostile environment.
Appearing alongside her brother Craig Robinson, the two reflected on their upbringing and moments of discrimination, including an incident where Robinson was falsely accused of theft by a Black police officer. Obama described this as one of her first exposures to systemic racism, which she believes still fuels many modern policies — including immigration enforcement.
“There’s so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kinds of choices,” she said, drawing a direct line between those experiences and the treatment of migrants today.
Without naming Trump, Michelle Obama criticized national leaders who, she said, are now arbitrarily deciding “who belongs and who doesn’t.” She expressed concern that decisions are being made with little regard for due process, putting vulnerable people at risk. “How do you feel comfortable going to work, going to school, when you know someone could upend your life in a second?” she asked.
The comments are seen as a veiled swipe at President Trump’s use of the rarely invoked 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows expedited deportation of individuals from hostile nations during times of war. Trump’s administration has used the act to target undocumented immigrants — especially those with suspected gang affiliations or violent criminal records.
Critics argue that the act, when applied this way, undermines legal protections and fast-tracks deportations without fair hearings.
But data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveals a key contradiction: during his first term, Trump actually deported fewer people than President Obama did.
From 2009 to 2016, ICE deported an estimated 3.1 million individuals under the Obama administration, with a record 409,849 removals in 2012 alone. Although the White House at the time claimed to prioritize deportations of criminals, advocates noted that thousands of non-criminals — including parents, students, and asylum seekers — were also swept up in raids. This led to Obama being dubbed the “Deporter-in-Chief” by immigration activists.
By contrast, Trump’s first term (2017–2021) saw around 2 million deportations — a lower number despite far more visible and controversial tactics such as family separations, detention of minors, and the push to build a border wall.
Nonetheless, enforcement appears to have escalated during Trump’s current term. DHS data cited by Newsweek shows 271,484 removals occurred in 2024 alone — suggesting a renewed crackdown that could push his overall numbers higher by the end of his presidency.
Michelle Obama’s warnings have reignited debate not only over Trump’s hardline immigration stance but also over the Obama administration’s legacy — one that critics on the left have not forgotten.
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