Official U.S. government data confirms a sharp rise in deportations of Russian nationals since 2023, with the figure reaching 464 individuals in fiscal year 2024. The trend shows a significant increase from 80 cases in 2021 to 68 in 2022 before accelerating dramatically in 2023 and 2024. Preliminary figures for January 2025 indicate an additional 137 deportations, though this data remains provisional.
California recorded the highest number of Russian deportations, followed by Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. The U.S. government has spent at least $2 million on these deportation operations. Pentagon documentation reveals the use of C-17 military aircraft for such missions, with one hour of flight costing over $19,000. U.S. officials reported that approximately 50 individuals from Iran, Russia, and Arab nations were deported in a second wave during December last year—following an initial departure carrying about 100 Iranian citizens in September.
