diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index 8ce6a65d3d..d8ae74a08d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ Change Log
 
 Unreleased
 ----------
-* Nothing
+[4.16.3]
+--------
+* fix: fixing the removal logic for EnterpriseGroupMemberships, adding optional flag
 
 [4.16.2]
 ---------
diff --git a/enterprise/__init__.py b/enterprise/__init__.py
index 4c65fbb01b..51f220f217 100644
--- a/enterprise/__init__.py
+++ b/enterprise/__init__.py
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 Your project description goes here.
 """
 
-__version__ = "4.16.2"
+__version__ = "4.16.3"
diff --git a/enterprise/api/v1/views/enterprise_group.py b/enterprise/api/v1/views/enterprise_group.py
index f15b48c229..cd25b3e83d 100644
--- a/enterprise/api/v1/views/enterprise_group.py
+++ b/enterprise/api/v1/views/enterprise_group.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ def get_learners(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         are `memberDetails`, `memberStatus`, and `recentAction`. Ordering can be reversed by supplying a `-` at the
         beginning of the sorting value ie `-memberStatus`.
         - ``page`` (int, optional): Which page of paginated data to return.
+        - ``show_removed`` (bool, optional): Include removed learners in the response.
 
         Returns: Paginated list of learners that are associated with the enterprise group uuid::
 
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@ def get_learners(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         query_params = self.request.query_params.copy()
         is_reversed = bool(query_params.get('is_reversed', False))
+        show_removed = bool(query_params.get('show_removed', False))
 
         param_serializers = serializers.EnterpriseGroupLearnersRequestQuerySerializer(
             data=query_params
@@ -155,7 +157,8 @@ def get_learners(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
             members = group_object.get_all_learners(user_query,
                                                     sort_by,
                                                     desc_order=is_reversed,
-                                                    pending_users_only=pending_users_only)
+                                                    pending_users_only=pending_users_only,
+                                                    fetch_removed=show_removed)
 
             page = self.paginate_queryset(members)
             serializer = serializers.EnterpriseGroupMembershipSerializer(page, many=True)
diff --git a/enterprise/models.py b/enterprise/models.py
index 3963d13115..fffff4a64b 100644
--- a/enterprise/models.py
+++ b/enterprise/models.py
@@ -4338,9 +4338,9 @@ def _get_explicit_group_members(self, user_query=None, fetch_removed=False, pend
         """
         Fetch explicitly defined members of a group, indicated by an existing membership record
         """
-        members = self.members.select_related(
-            'enterprise_customer_user', 'pending_enterprise_customer_user'
-        )
+        # note: self.members doesn't seem to surface soft deleted items
+        members = EnterpriseGroupMembership.all_objects.filter(
+            group__uuid=self.uuid).select_related('enterprise_customer_user', 'pending_enterprise_customer_user')
         if not fetch_removed:
             members = members.filter(is_removed=False)
         if user_query:
diff --git a/tests/test_enterprise/api/test_views.py b/tests/test_enterprise/api/test_views.py
index cce0931388..1e26ac2e14 100644
--- a/tests/test_enterprise/api/test_views.py
+++ b/tests/test_enterprise/api/test_views.py
@@ -7629,6 +7629,44 @@ def test_list_learners_filtered(self):
             'pending_learner_id'
         ) == pending_membership.pending_enterprise_customer_user.id
 
+    def test_list_removed_learners(self):
+        group = EnterpriseGroupFactory(
+            enterprise_customer=self.enterprise_customer,
+            applies_to_all_contexts=False,
+        )
+        memberships_to_delete = []
+        membership = EnterpriseGroupMembershipFactory(
+            group=group,
+            pending_enterprise_customer_user=None,
+            enterprise_customer_user__enterprise_customer=self.enterprise_customer,
+        )
+        memberships_to_delete.append(membership.enterprise_customer_user.user.email)
+
+        # first we remove the membership
+        remove_url = settings.TEST_SERVER + reverse(
+            'enterprise-group-remove-learners',
+            kwargs={'group_uuid': group.uuid},
+        )
+        request_data = {'learner_emails': memberships_to_delete}
+        response = self.client.post(remove_url, data=request_data)
+
+        # then we're checking if the filter works
+        removed_users_query_string = '?show_removed=true'
+        url = settings.TEST_SERVER + reverse(
+            'enterprise-group-learners',
+            kwargs={'group_uuid': group.uuid},
+        ) + removed_users_query_string
+        response = self.client.get(url)
+        assert response.json().get('count') == 1
+
+        # but we're doing an extra check to make sure its not fetched normally
+        url = settings.TEST_SERVER + reverse(
+            'enterprise-group-learners',
+            kwargs={'group_uuid': group.uuid},
+        )
+        response = self.client.get(url)
+        assert response.json().get('count') == 0
+
     def test_list_learners_sort_by(self):
         """
         Test that the list learners endpoint can be sorted by 'recentAction', 'status', 'memberDetails'
@@ -7978,7 +8016,7 @@ def test_successful_assign_learners_to_group(self, mock_send_group_membership_in
 
     def test_remove_learners_404(self):
         """
-        Test that the remove learners endpoint properly handles no finding the provided group
+        Test that the remove learners endpoint properly handles not finding the provided group
         """
         url = settings.TEST_SERVER + reverse(
             'enterprise-group-remove-learners',