The United States deported 235,413 people in 2015, the vast majority of them to Mexico,
according to a report by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
Most were deported to the countries they had left. In all, people were deported to 181 different countries.
After Mexico, 14 percent were sent to Guatemala, 9 percent to El Salvador and 8 percent to Honduras. Those three Central American countries have been part of the wave of illegal immigrants — especially children — who have been flooding the southern border fleeing violence in their native countries.
The influx has led to Republican calls for a sealing of the border.
Deportations to Mexico increased in 2015, from 56 percent in 2014 to 62 percent this year.