WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Tens of thousands of immigrants with criminal convictions, including those for sex offenses and homicides, are currently free in communities across the United States, according to new data provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to lawmakers.
The data, shared with Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, highlights a troubling reality: among the more than 7 million illegal immigrants on ICE’s non-detained docket — individuals who are not in custody but either have final orders of removal or are going through removal proceedings — there are 425,431 with criminal convictions and 222,141 with pending charges.
Note: Kamala paired her $62,000 Tiffany necklace with a workwear field jacket at the border yesterday to talk about the 13,000 convicted murderers she let into the country. I kinda like Comrade Kamala’s communist-themed khaki worker attire juxtaposed with the bling… As if to say, “Ideologically, I want communism for the rest of you, but I just can’t give up my nice stuff.”
Among those not in detention, the report states that 13,099 have been convicted of homicide, 15,811 of sexual assault, and 62,231 of assault. Additionally, 1,845 immigrants have pending homicide charges, while 42,915 face pending assault charges.
Rep. Gonzales called the situation alarming. “As of July 21, 2024, there were 662,566 noncitizens with criminal histories on ICE’s national docket—13,099 criminally convicted murderers!” Gonzales said in a statement. “Americans deserve to be SAFE in our own communities.”
ICE, in a separate statement, took issue with “sanctuary” jurisdictions, which often refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The agency argued that such policies shield dangerous criminals and ultimately harm the very communities they seek to protect.
“‘Sanctuary’ policies can end up shielding dangerous criminals, who often victimize those same communities,” ICE said. The agency also underscored its efforts to remove illegal immigrants, reporting that, from May 2023 to July 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed or returned over 893,600 individuals, including more than 138,300 in family units.
However, critics have pointed to a broader issue with the Biden administration’s handling of immigration at the southern border. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green criticized the administration for releasing migrants into the interior despite their criminal histories, claiming it prioritized public safety and national security threats at the cost of deportations.
“There were 142,580 removals in FY 2023, up from 72,177 in FY 2022, but still well below the 267,258 removals under the Trump administration in FY 2019,” Green said. “This defies all common sense.”
The non-detained docket has surged over the last few years, rising from 3.7 million in FY 2021 to over 7 million by FY 2023. Republicans have blamed this increase on the Biden administration’s rollback of Trump-era border policies, including the “catch and release” policy that allowed many migrants to be released into the U.S. while awaiting court hearings.
The Biden administration has defended its immigration policies, arguing that the focus remains on removing individuals who pose the greatest threats to public safety. However, the sharp rise in the number of non-detained immigrants with criminal records continues to fuel heated political debate ahead of the 2024 elections.
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– Barack Hussein Obama