U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported a record number of undocumented immigrants and foreign criminal convicts in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, in a bid to reduce the number of illegal migrants in the United States.

Nationwide, the agency removed 349,041 foreign nationals, or 20 percent more compared to the 288,663 people deported in fiscal year 2007.

A third of those expelled in fiscal year 2008 were criminal convicts.

The increase is all the more remarkable compared to the 116,460 removals carried out in 2002.

In Florida, the number of deportations undertaken by ICE also hit a record, with the removal of 12,753 foreign nationals.

The number of Florida deportations in fiscal year 2007 amounted to 9,105.

''We made a commitment to the American people to embark on an ambitious enforcement strategy aimed at securing our borders and strengthening our nation's immigration system,'' said Julie L. Myers, Homeland Security assistant secretary for ICE.

The official went on to say that the record number of removals nationwide ''reflect significant, steady progress toward'' the goal of securing the border.

The government's strategy of increasing deportations through raids, arrests and detentions has been widely criticized by immigration advocacy groups, which seek comprehensive immigration reform aimed at legalizing undocumented workers who have no criminal records.