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Immigrant removals continue to decline under Obama

In this April 28, 2015, photo, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight of the department. The Obama administration is on pace to deport the fewest number of immigrants in nearly a decade. Federal immigration officials have sent home about 127,000 people as of mid-April. That’s about 19,730 people a month since the government’s fiscal year started in October.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
In this April 28, 2015, photo, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight of the department. The Obama administration is on pace to deport the fewest number of immigrants in nearly a decade. Federal immigration officials have sent home about 127,000 people as of mid-April. That’s about 19,730 people a month since the government’s fiscal year started in October. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke) In this April 28, 2015, photo, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight of the department. The Obama administration is on pace to deport the fewest number of immigrants in nearly a decade. Federal immigration officials have sent home about 127,000 people as of mid-April. That’s about 19,730 people a month since the government’s fiscal year started in October. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is on pace to deport the fewest number of immigrants in nearly a decade.

Federal immigration officials have sent home about 127,000 people as of mid-April. That’s about 19,730 people a month since the government’s fiscal year started in October.

At the current pace, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is on track to remove the fewest number of immigrants since then-President George W. Bush’s administration sent home about 207,700 people in 2006.

The numbers were contained in internal government documents obtained by The Associated Press

Removals have been declining for nearly three years, since the Obama administration recorded a record 409,849 deportations in 2012.