U.S. President Donald Trump looks on before boarding Air Force One en route to Florida, at Pope Army Airfield on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S., February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
(Washington, DC) – Hillary Clinton is under fire after pointing to deportation numbers from past Democratic administrations — while critics say she’s ignoring a key difference under Donald Trump.
Clinton highlighted that roughly 2 million people were deported under Bill Clinton and approximately 5 million under Barack Obama — figures often cited in immigration debates.
But critics say she left out what happened when Trump carried out far fewer deportations — roughly 600,000 — which were met with widespread protests and, in some cases, riots in major cities.
Supporters of Trump argue the unrest wasn’t organic, claiming Democratic activists and political leaders fueled the backlash to derail enforcement efforts and damage the administration politically.
“Hillary is leaving out one very important detail,” one critic wrote online, pointing to the stark difference in public reaction between administrations.
Democrats counter that immigration enforcement tactics, rhetoric, and policy scope varied significantly between presidencies — contributing to different responses from the public.
The clash highlights a deeper divide over immigration policy — and whether today’s protests reflect policy differences or political strategy.
