Vast Majority Of Illegals Arrested By ICE Have Criminal Records
Despite the narratives pushed by left-wing media outlets, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is overwhelmingly focused on removing illegal aliens with criminal records — not law-abiding immigrants, as critics claim.
According to Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin, ICE has arrested more than 600,000 illegal immigrants, and roughly 70% of those individuals have been charged with or convicted of crimes inside the United States.
“These aren’t just people violating immigration laws,” McLaughlin said. “We’re talking about murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists.”
The 70% figure only includes crimes committed in the United States. DHS officials say the actual number of dangerous individuals is even higher when factoring in foreign warrants, INTERPOL notices, and crimes committed abroad.
“This statistic doesn’t account for those wanted for violent crimes in their home country or another country,” McLaughlin added. “The list goes on.”
McLaughlin reiterated that the United States is a nation of laws and said DHS will not be intimidated by radical protesters. “We are committed to enforcing those laws, all of which are just,” she said.
The Biden-era media machine has tried to portray ICE agents as aggressors, but real footage from recent operations tells a different story.
One law enforcement agent went viral last week after confronting protesters during an arrest. In the clip, the officer explains that they are attempting to apprehend a child sex offender while activists block their path and honk car horns.
“We’re here to arrest a child sex offender, and you guys are out here honking,” the agent says. “That vehicle has been honking and impeding our investigation while we’re trying to arrest a child sex offender. That’s who you guys are protecting. Insane.”
God bless the men & women of @ICEgov @CBP who risk their lives to arrest these criminals. pic.twitter.com/eDJQLCrjZh
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) January 18, 2026
DHS has also confirmed that assaults against ICE agents have skyrocketed, with a reported 1,300% increase in attacks compared to recent years.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis and other liberal cities continue to be hotbeds of anti-ICE violence and obstruction. Activist groups, backed by left-wing politicians and supported by sympathetic media coverage, have launched riots, disrupted operations, and threatened law enforcement officers.
DHS says it will not back down. “Targeting the worst of the worst,” McLaughlin said, “is our mission — and we won’t be deterred by radicals who choose criminals over public safety.”