Not since 2006 has the federal government deported more illegal aliens. But then, not since then have Democrat hopes for the presidency been so low.

With the presidential election campaign in full swing, it was revealed this week the government deported just 231,000 illegal immigrants during the past 12 months. The number has not been that low since President Barack Obama took office.

Deportations are down 42 percent just since 2012.

Of course, it was just before the 2012 election in which Obama won a second term that he pledged publicly to slow the pace of deportations.

He is doing more than just keeping a promise, however. The current slowdown clearly is calculated to help Democrat candidates in next year’s elections appeal to Hispanic voters. For that reason, expect the deportation totals to go down, not up.