Deportation
In short
The formal removal of a person or group from a country by the state. This process typically involves forcing an individual to leave a territory because they have broken immigration laws or other legal rules.
In plain words
A government sends someone out of the country. This usually happens if the person does not have the right visa or has committed a crime. They are then required to go back to their home nation.
A simple example
A person enters a country without a valid passport and is caught by border officials. The government then organises their flight back to their country of origin.
Why it matters
It is a key tool for governments to control their borders and enforce national laws. It often causes significant debate regarding human rights and international law.
Easy to mix up
It is often confused with extradition, which is the process of handing a person over to another country to face criminal charges.