Lechleitner clarified that while ICE is required by law to hold certain noncitizens during deportation proceedings, most individuals convicted of homicide are ineligible for release.
Crisis by Design
The Biden-Harris administration is facing criticism for having one of the lowest deportation rates in 30 years.
A recent report titled “Crisis by Design” from the House Committee on Homeland Security highlights the challenges faced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in vetting illegal aliens entering the country. Former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott described the vetting process under the current administration as a “check-the-box exercise.”
Between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, the Border Patrol made more than 53,000 arrests of illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds—30,000 more than during fiscal years 2017 through 2020.
In October 2023 alone, the Border Patrol was apprehending over 47 individuals per day with serious criminal histories. Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle from the Yuma Sector also noted that the agency encounters people who have committed almost every crime imaginable.
Border Visits
The release of the ICE data coincides with Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona.
