I thought this email from our member MPI may be of interest to others on this list. Jeff > > > > > November 15, 2016 > > > > Dear Jeff Carter, > > There has been much interest—and confusion—in recent days regarding the number of unauthorized immigrants who could be deported because of criminal convictions when the Trump administration takes charges. > > During an interview Sunday on CBS’ 60 Minutes, President-elect Trump said his administration would seek to deport 2 million to 3 million people with criminal records who he said are in the country illegally. > > A new Migration Policy Institute (MPI) commentary <http://my.migrationpolicy.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=UsX8plsxSz1usba8WccEd0QusoBm%2FsQp>, which draws from earlier MPI work, examines how many unauthorized immigrants would be priorities for removal under the circumstances outlined by Mr. Trump. The answer: About 820,000, based on MPI estimates drawing from the most recent publicly available information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). > > DHS last reported on the “removable criminal alien population” in a 2012 report to Congress, estimating that there are 1.9 million noncitizens with criminal records that make them removable. Based on the DHS number, we estimated in a 2015 report <http://my.migrationpolicy.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=nxFVkCf5SsaJx9yPy6yH9EQusoBm%2FsQp> that 820,000 of the approximately 11 million people living in the country illegally had criminal convictions. These 820,000 people are a subset of the 1.9 million, with the remainder comprised of people lawfully present in the United States. > > The commentary explains how the 820,000 estimate was derived, traces how the U.S. immigration enforcement system has already been recalibrated over recent years to focus on the removal of noncitizens with criminal records, and outlines issues affecting the removal of this population. > > I commend it to your attention. > > With best regards, > > Doris Meissner > Director, U.S. Immigration Policy Program > Migration Policy Institute > > ### > The Migration Policy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C. dedicated to analysis of the movement of people worldwide. MPI provides analysis, development, and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at the local, national, and international levels. For more on MPI, please visit www.migrationpolicy.org <http://my.migrationpolicy.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=VuWRMAA47%2B%2B101qsOOa5lUQusoBm%2FsQp>. > > > Migration Policy Institute > Stay up to date <http://my.migrationpolicy.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=pqTs22zPdSdLn%2BKRFfmlJUQusoBm%2FsQp> on MPI's events and newest publications. > > MPI Data Hub > Find the latest immigration statistics <http://my.migrationpolicy.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=DAydyLuHxRVJdgoY9W2YSkQusoBm%2FsQp>, maps, and numbers for the United States and other countries. > > Migration Information Source > Read a unique, online journal <http://my.migrationpolicy.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=SWN43EkbNwvamQW8WiFSTEQusoBm%2FsQp> that provides fresh thought and global analysis of international migration and refugee trends. > > > > >