Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently revealed a shocking statistic to Congress: more than 13,000 immigrants convicted of homicide are currently living freely in the United States.
The immigrants, who are classified as "non-detained," have pending immigration cases, raising concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of enforcement efforts under the Biden-Harris administration, as the Daily Mail reports.
The exact number of convicted murderers residing in the U.S. stands at 13,099, according to data that was provided to Congress earlier this week. Many of these individuals have either slipped through ICE’s grasp or were never prioritized for detention, despite their criminal histories.
ICE has explained that these immigrants remain outside of detention for various reasons. Some have evaded capture, while others simply do not fall under current enforcement priorities. This revelation has led to mounting fears about the potential dangers posed by such individuals living freely among the public.
The disclosure of this alarming number came after a request by Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales. His request, made earlier this year, sought clarity on the issue of how many convicted criminals remain within U.S. borders after having committed serious offenses. The White House reportedly expressed surprise at the total but has so far remained silent on the matter publicly. ICE officials have pointed out that the data, which was collected up until July 21, underscores a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies across the country.
ICE Acting Director P.J. Lechleitner noted a recent uptick in cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and immigration authorities due to the increase in crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants. Lechleitner’s comments suggest that some local agencies are beginning to realize the urgency of addressing this ongoing issue.
Law enforcement officials have also raised concerns about soft-on-crime policies in certain sanctuary cities. These policies often prevent local authorities from notifying ICE when an undocumented immigrant is released from custody. As a result, many immigrants with criminal backgrounds are able to re-enter communities without immigration authorities ever being alerted.
ICE’s non-detained docket, which includes these convicted individuals, currently holds over 7.5 million migrants whose immigration cases are still pending. While ICE has been attempting to track and detain those with serious criminal records, the sheer volume of cases and limited resources make this a daunting task. Among the most tragic cases recently tied to this issue was the murder of University of Georgia student Laken Riley. In February, 26-year-old Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant, was charged with her murder. Security footage captured Ibarra lurking near her dorm before her body was found on a nearby running trail.
Many of the immigrants included in the 13,099 total have never come into contact with ICE or were released because their criminal histories were not properly documented at the time of their arrival in the U.S. For law enforcement, tracking down individuals in this position has proven to be a time-consuming and difficult process.
Some critics argue that ICE's current policies prioritize certain types of offenders over others, leaving dangerous individuals free to roam the streets. These concerns have been echoed by former President Donald Trump, who described these immigrants as “hard, tough, vicious criminals” that present a serious threat to the safety of the American public.
Additionally, ICE’s ability to deport these individuals is often hindered by local and state-level policies. Many of these jurisdictions have refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, further complicating ICE's efforts to apprehend convicted criminals. While ICE has sought to address these concerns through increased collaboration with local law enforcement, the lack of consistent cooperation and outdated information continue to hamper their efforts.
Despite these challenges, ICE officials remain committed to tracking down and detaining immigrants with criminal convictions, but the task ahead is monumental. With over 13,000 convicted killers currently living in the U.S., many believe that more immediate action is necessary to ensure public safety.
The issue has drawn increased scrutiny in recent months, particularly from Republican lawmakers and law enforcement officials who are calling for stronger immigration enforcement and more cooperation from sanctuary cities. The lack of comment from the White House and Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has not gone unnoticed by critics of the administration and of the Democratic Party presidential nominee.
