Sentiment regarding the increased deportation of unauthorized immigrants has divided the public. While immigration reform legislation has been tabled by the Republican-dominated House, the American public has shared its opinion on the subject.

Forty-five percent of the nation believes that the influx of undocumented immigrant deportation is a good thing, the same percentage of citizens believe that it's a bad thing, and nine percent have stated that they don't know, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. 

Deportations reached a record number in 2012, according to the Department of Homeland Security; the number of deportations escalating to an unprecedented 419,384. Since President Barack Obama first took office, more than 1.6 million undocumented citizens have been forcibly removed from this country, only .4 less than President Bush deported during his eight year stint in office -- and Obama still has roughly three years left to continue this trend.

Republicans, by-and-large, are more supportive of the deportation practice than Democrats, and Whites more so than Hispanics. Most Hispanics (60 percent) view the swell of deportations negatively, while Whites are more likely to view it as a good thing (49 percent) rather than a bad thing (42 percent).

Pew Research Center's Hispanic Trends Project conducted the survey last fall in light of the prevalent concern over the threat of deportation among Hispanics. Fifty-five percent of Hispanics believe that it's more important that undocumented immigrants have the ability to live and work in the U.S. without the threat of being revoked than obtaining a pathway to citizenship. Pew Research estimates that three-fourths of the country's 11.7 million undocumented immigrants are Hispanic.

Nearly three-quarters of the nation (73 percent) believe that undocumented individuals should have a way to live legally, whether that means that they apply for citizenship (46 percent) or that they apply to be permanent residence (24 percent). Only 24 percent of Americans oppose this, and believe that they should not be allowed to stay legally.

Immigration reform hits close to home for most Hispanics, and overall is something that carries more interest with that group than other demographics. 72 percent of Hispanics say it is extremely or very important that the president and Congress pass new immigration legislation, compared with 44 percent of whites and 49 percent of blacks.

Hispanics (89 percent), Blacks (77 percent) and Whites (70 percent) believe that undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in country legally. Independent Republicans (74) were more likely to support undocumented citizens being able to stay in the U.S. than Tea Party Republicans (56 percent) and Conservative Republican (61 percent). Liberal Democrats (90) is more supportive than Conservative Democrats (73 percent) .

And, regarding partisan opinion, 55 percent of Republicans view the growth of deportation as a good thing, and Democrats expressed a similar opinion with 53 percent supporting this trend, though Tea Party Republicans have an especially positive view of the rising number of deportations, with 65 percent in support of it.

President Obama has received pressure from immigration reformers who demand that he scales back the number of deportations. Advocates for undocumented immigrants recognize fault from both parties, Democratic and Republican, and believe that Obama has been too aggressive with deportations, which happens at the expense of immigrant families.

"At the same time I am critical of Republicans for what they are not doing, I am going to be critical of the president for what he is doing," Rep. Luis Gutiérrez said Friday during a press call on the topic. "At some point, someone has to stand up for the immigrant community and give a voice to the voiceless. When I see politicians hiding behind excuses, I have to call them on it."

Gutiérrez's comment occurred after Janet Murguía's, who is the head of the National Council of La Raza. Murguía hammered Republicans for refusing to take up a comprehensive bill, and she criticized Obama, calling him 'deporter in chief.'

"We're tired of the finger pointing, and we're going to push on both parties and ... put pressure on both fronts to do more," Murguía said. "We will make sure we do everything we can to build our political power so that there will be political consequences either in the midterms or ... in 2016."

Gutiérrez and Murguía say they'll be pressuring all sides, though Murguía has said that she will no long use the term 'deporter in chief.'

"When I and others call the president the 'deporter in chief,' that is not contradictory with the president being a champion of immigration reform legislation," Gutiérrez said. "Look, I want President Obama to be the 'bill-signer in chief,' and I think we are all pushing in the same direction."