Deportations of Europeans could top fiscal ’16 total

BOSTON — Europeans often hid in plain sight as Latin Americans, Asians and others living illegally in America were sent packing. But now they’re starting to realize they are not immune to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, and they’re worried.

The number of Europeans deported this federal fiscal year from the United States could surpass last fiscal year’s total, according to figures provided to The Associated Press by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

From Oct. 2, 2016 through June 24, more than 1,300 Europeans were removed, compared with 1,450 during all of fiscal 2016 — the last federal fiscal year under President Barack Obama. The agency didn’t provide estimates broken down by calendar year.

Europeans comprise about 440,000 of the estimated 11 million people living illegally in the United States, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Since just before Trump was elected in November, the U.S. has deported 167,350 foreigners, compared with 240,255 in all of fiscal 2016. Immigrants from Latin America make up the largest group by far, with Mexico leading the way at about 93,000.

Among Europeans, Romanians make up the largest share, with 193 deportations so far in fiscal 2017, followed by Spain at 117, the United Kingdom at 102, Russia at 81 and Poland at 74. Those countries were also tops last fiscal year; Romania had 176, the United Kingdom 160, Poland 160, Spain 115 and Russia 94.