President-elect Donald Trump’s appointed “border czar” Tom Homan has made it clear that when Trump’s second term begins in January, his administration will prioritize deporting noncitizens with criminal histories. This decision comes in the wake of recent high-profile criminal cases involving undocumented immigrants, such as the tragic murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley by a Venezuelan immigrant who crossed the U.S. southern border illegally.
However, there have been conflicting and exaggerated statements made by Homan and other top Republicans regarding the overall number of noncitizens with criminal backgrounds. In a recent interview with Fox News, Homan claimed that there are “over 1.5 million convicted criminal aliens in this country with orders for removal who we’ll be looking for.” The Trump transition team clarified that this number includes some migrants who entered the country illegally but are not classified as “convicted criminal aliens.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson has also stated that the number of migrants apprehended for committing violent crimes could be as high as “3 or 4 million people.” However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provided much lower estimates to Congress. As of July 21, ICE’s national docket listed approximately 660,000 noncitizens with criminal histories, including 436,000 convicted criminals and 227,000 individuals with pending criminal charges. These figures account for both detained and non-detained noncitizens.
Estimates indicate that there are around 24.5 million noncitizens in the U.S., including approximately 11 million unauthorized immigrants and 13.5 million lawful permanent residents or temporary lawful residents. Based on these numbers, Homan’s claim that around 6% of noncitizens are convicted criminals seems plausible. On the other hand, Johnson’s assertion that up to 12% of noncitizens could be criminals, or even 24% of the unauthorized population, appears inflated. ICE’s data suggests that only about 2.6% of noncitizens in the U.S. have criminal histories.
C. Mario Russell, executive director for the Center for Migration Studies, has emphasized that ICE’s figures are the most accurate available for tracking noncitizens with criminal backgrounds. Despite the claims made by Homan and Johnson, ICE’s data remains the most reliable source for understanding the scope of this issue.
The Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration enforcement has raised concerns among immigrant rights advocates and supporters of more lenient immigration policies. The prioritization of deporting noncitizens with criminal histories has sparked debates about the ethical implications of such actions and how they align with American values of justice and compassion.
While there is broad consensus on the need to address criminal activity committed by noncitizens, there is ongoing disagreement about the best approach to achieve this goal. Some argue that a more targeted and data-driven approach, like the one advocated by ICE, is essential to effectively identify and remove individuals who pose a threat to public safety. Others contend that the rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement has become overly politicized and divisive, leading to harmful stereotypes and discrimination against immigrant communities.
As the Trump administration prepares to implement its immigration policies in the coming months, the focus on deporting noncitizens with criminal histories will undoubtedly remain a contentious and polarizing issue. The accuracy and transparency of data regarding the number of noncitizens with criminal backgrounds will be crucial in shaping public perception and informing policy decisions moving forward. It is essential for policymakers and advocates on all sides of the debate to engage in constructive dialogue and seek common ground to address the complex challenges posed by immigration enforcement in a fair and humane manner.
