The data provided by ICE to Congress reveals that more than 13,000 immigrants convicted of homicide, either in the U.S. or abroad, are currently living freely in the country outside of ICE detention. These individuals are part of ICE’s “non-detained” docket, meaning they have pending immigration cases but are not currently in detention for various reasons. ICE Director P.J. Lechleitner provided this data in response to a request from Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas, collected as of July 21. It is unclear when the first of these immigrants crossed into the U.S., with many having crossed under previous administrations, including that of former President Donald Trump.
During a campaign stop in Michigan, Trump used the data to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for current immigration policies, highlighting the presence of dangerous criminals in the country. The White House has yet to comment on the data, with one official noting that its release came as a surprise. Many of the 13,099 immigrants convicted of homicide living in the U.S. may not have had prior contact with ICE, having crossed the border and been released due to a lack of criminal history information or policy in sanctuary cities that release convicts without notifying ICE. ICE aims to locate and arrest such individuals, prioritizing those convicted of serious crimes like homicide, but faces limitations in resources, currently having over 7.5 million immigrants on its non-detained docket.
Law enforcement officials familiar with the data explained that many convicted criminals living freely in the U.S. were not previously known to ICE, as criminal convictions may not be communicated to U.S. authorities until after individuals cross the border. In cases where migrants are convicted of crimes, state and local officials may release them without informing ICE, necessitating efforts to locate and deport them after their release. ICE has emphasized the importance of local jurisdictions cooperating and reassessing sanctuary policies in light of concerns about migrant crime. The agency’s agents require significant manpower to locate and arrest convicted criminals living at large in the U.S.
NBC News accompanied ICE agents in Maryland on operations to arrest individuals convicted of murder in Colombia and attempted murder in El Salvador, illustrating the challenges and complexities involved in locating and apprehending such criminals. This process requires significant resources and coordination to track down and detain individuals with criminal convictions for deportation. More local jurisdictions are reportedly starting to reconsider sanctuary policies in response to increased scrutiny and concern over the presence of convicted criminals living freely in the country. ICE continues to prioritize the arrest and removal of migrants with serious criminal convictions, including homicide, within the limits of its resources and capabilities.
