The White House has yet to comment on new data released to lawmakers showing the number of illegal immigrants with convictions for sex offenses and homicide convictions who are not in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. The agency provided data to Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, about national data for illegal immigrants with criminal charges or convictions, broken down by those in detention and those who are not in detention. The non-detained docket includes noncitizens who have final orders of removal or are going through removal proceedings but are not detained in ICE custody. Currently, there are more than 7.4 million people on that docket, up from around 3.7 million when former President Trump left office. Among those not in detention, there are 425,431 convicted criminals and 222,141 with pending criminal charges, but the data does not reveal how many of those criminals are recent arrivals.
The convicted criminals listed in the data include those convicted of assault, burglary, drug offenses, homicide, kidnapping, and sexual assault. The White House, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, and the Department of Homeland Security have not yet commented on the data or whether they were aware of the numbers. The release of this data sparked outrage from Republicans, who tied the numbers to the policies of the Biden administration and sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with ICE. Rep. Tony Gonzalez called the data “beyond disturbing” and emphasized the need for the Biden-Harris administration and cities across the country to prioritize the safety of American citizens and ensure resources are allocated to deport noncitizens with criminal records.
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green criticized the release of illegal immigrants into the U.S., calling it “madness” that no civilized society should tolerate. ICE also pointed out the impact of “sanctuary” cities that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement in deporting illegal immigrant criminals, stating that such policies can shield dangerous criminals who victimize immigrant communities. The data release comes as Vice President Kamala Harris visits the southern border in Arizona, seeking to present herself as tougher on border security than former President Trump. The administration has faced criticism for policies, including rolling back Trump policies that limited “catch and release.” The administration has called for more funding and reforms from Congress to address the border crisis, pointing to a bipartisan Senate bill introduced this year that aims to increase the number of ICE detention beds, although critics note that not all beds are currently being filled.
The Biden administration has prioritized the removal of public safety and national security threats, but critics have linked these priorities to a drop in ICE removals. Republicans have blamed the border crisis on the administration’s policies, including rolling back Trump policies that limited “catch and release.” The administration has emphasized the need for funding and reforms from Congress, including the bipartisan Senate bill introduced this year. The release of the data highlights the challenges of handling illegal immigrants with criminal records and the impact of sanctuary policies on public safety. The data also underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement that prioritizes the safety of American citizens and ensures that resources are allocated effectively to address the issue.
