Deportation is when a government forces someone to leave a country and return to their home country or another nation. When someone is deported, they must leave, even if they want to stay.

Countries have laws about who can live within their borders. When someone enters or stays in a country without following these laws, the government might order their deportation. This is different from someone choosing to move away: deportation is an official government action, not a personal choice.

Throughout history, governments have used deportation for different reasons. Some countries deported criminals to distant territories. Today, deportation usually happens when someone has entered a country illegally, overstayed a visa, or violated the terms of their permission to be there.

Deportation can be heartbreaking because people might have lived somewhere for years, made friends, built careers, or started families. Children might have to leave the only home they've ever known. Because of this, many countries have courts where people can argue against deportation and explain why they should be allowed to stay.

The process involves immigration officials, courts, and sometimes detention centers where people wait while their cases are decided. Someone facing deportation can usually hire a lawyer to help present their case.