ICE: 235,413 REMOVALS IN FY2015; 98% UNDER NEW PRIORITIES AS PEP REPLACES SECURE COMMUNITIES

ICE’s FY2015 removals report documents 235,413 deportations, with 98% meeting DHS civil enforcement priorities issued in Nov 2014. The agency conducted 69,478 interior removals (91% involved convicted individuals) and removed 139,368 people with criminal convictions. DHS ended Secure Communities and launched the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP) in July 2015 to boost state/local cooperation, setting a policy baseline for later interior enforcement increases.