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New US statistics on criminal migrants have become a focal point of criticism towards the Democratic border policy under President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Claims made by former President Trump about the number of convicted murderers entering the country have been debunked by new data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Trump alleged that 13,000 convicted murderers entered the country during Harris’ time as Border Czar and accused them of openly roaming the country. However, ICE’s latest numbers reveal that while there were indeed 13,000 non-citizens convicted of murder on its records, many of them were not in the custody of ICE. The Department of Homeland Security clarified that the data spanned several years and included migrants who entered the US during Trump’s and earlier administrations. Additionally, individuals on the list may be detained or imprisoned by other law enforcement authorities.
A letter from ICE to Republican congressman Tony Gonzales disclosed that as of July 2024, there were 425,431 non-citizens with criminal convictions on the agency’s “non-detained docket.” Among these were 13,099 individuals convicted of murder, 15,811 with sexual assault convictions, and 62,231 with assault convictions. However, DHS acknowledged that the data had been misinterpreted, as many of these individuals were under the jurisdiction of federal, state, or local law enforcement partners and were not roaming freely as suggested by Trump.
The data also does not specify when these convicted criminals entered the US, undermining Trump’s claim that they did so during the Biden-Harris administration. DHS clarified that the data included individuals who had entered the country over the past 40 years or more, with custody determinations being made long before the current administration. Though the exact numbers under each administration are not readily available, it is evident that the non-detained docket has grown over the years, including during Trump’s presidency.
Despite an increase in immigration under President Biden, the number of convicted criminals on the non-detained docket has not significantly increased. However, the process of deporting criminal non-citizens remains complicated, particularly in cases where the US lacks diplomatic connections or countries refuse to accept deportees. The government faces challenges in extraditing individuals to certain countries where return may result in torture or persecution, as mandated by the UN Convention Against Torture.
Since January 2021, DHS has deported over 180,000 criminal non-citizens, highlighting ongoing efforts to address this issue. While the debate around criminal migrants and border policies continues, it is essential to consider the complexities and legal limitations involved in handling these cases. Proper communication and cooperation with other countries are crucial to effectively managing the deportation process and ensuring public safety.
