History of Deportation in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 6, 2026

Deportation is the act of a state expelling an individual or group from its territory. The specific definition of deportation varies by location and context, and it is subject to change over time. An individual who has been deported or is facing deportation is referred to as a deportee.

1901: Immigration Restriction Act in Australia

In 1901, Australia enacted the Immigration Restriction Act, marking the beginning of common practice in immigration control.

1905: Aliens Act in the United Kingdom

In 1905, the United Kingdom passed the Aliens Act, contributing to the rise of deportation of "illegal" immigrants on a global scale.

1908: Continuous Journey Regulation in Canada

In 1908, Canada implemented the Continuous Journey Regulation, which further elevated the deportation of "illegal" immigrants to a global scale.

1917: Early Bolsheviks served time in remote cities and governorates.

Prior to 1917 several early Bolsheviks served time in remote cities and governorates.

1929: Deportation of Mexicans from the U.S.

From 1929 to 1935, at least 82,000 Mexicans were formally deported from the U.S. by the government.

1935: End of Formal Deportation of Mexicans

From 1929 to 1935, at least 82,000 Mexicans were formally deported from the U.S. by the government.

1935: Publication of Strange Passage

In 1935, the novel "Strange Passage" by Theodore D. Irwin, featuring deportation as a central theme, was published.

1936: Release of Ellis Island Film

In 1936, the film "Ellis Island" was released, depicting fictional cases of deportation.

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1939: Release of Exile Express and Five Came Back Films

In 1939, the films "Exile Express" and "Five Came Back" were released, depicting fictional cases of deportation.

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1943: Serbs deported from the Independent State of Croatia

By 1943, an estimated 300,000 Serbs were deported from the Independent State of Croatia to German-occupied Serbia.

1950: Release of Deported Film

In 1950, the film "Deported" was released, depicting fictional cases of deportation.

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1951: Release of Gambling House Film

In 1951, the film "Gambling House" was released, depicting fictional cases of deportation.

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1954: Implementation of Operation Wetback

In 1954, the U.S. government implemented Operation Wetback, leading to the deportation of nearly 1.3 million Mexicans from the United States.

1991: Operation Ring

In 1991, the Karabakh movement for independence was met with a series of pogroms and Operation Ring, leading to the forced deportations of Armenians across Azerbaijan.

1997: U.S. Deportation to the Caribbean

After 1997, U.S. deportation to the Caribbean was depicted in Shottas

2002: Release of Shottas Film

In 2002, the film "Shottas" was released, treating the issue of U.S. deportation to the Caribbean post-1997.

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2010: Criticism of the Role of Deportees

In 2010, Mosig-Walburg criticized the hypothesized decisive role of Roman deportees in the spread of Christianity in Persia and their major contribution to the Persian economy.

2014: Deportation of Ukrainians during Russo-Ukrainian War

Since 2014, the Russian Federation has been deporting Ukrainians during the course of the Russo-Ukrainian War.

2023: Expulsion of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh

In 2023, all Armenians were expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the Karabakh movement for independence.

2023: Deportation of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian Descent

In 2023, the Dominican Republic deported more than 250,000 Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent to Haiti.

2023: Deportation of Afghans from Pakistan began

Pakistan started deporting undocumented Afghans in 2023.

January 2025: Repatriation of Afghans from Pakistan

By January 2025, over 813,300 individuals had been repatriated to Afghanistan from Pakistan.

April 2025: Deportation figures under the Trump administration

As of April 2025, the Trump administration claimed that around 140,000 people had been deported, though some estimates put the number at roughly half that amount.

May 2025: Iranian government orders mass deportation of Afghan migrants

In May 2025, the Iranian government ordered the mass deportation of an estimated 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.