On Monday, Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy confronted White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about concerning data released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the information, as of July 21, 13,099 illegal immigrants convicted of homicide were residing freely across the United States.
The startling figures raised questions about the potential threat to American communities, sparking a heated exchange during the press briefing.
The data, first shared in a letter to Republican Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, has reignited the debate over the security of the U.S. border and the handling of criminal immigrants.
Peter Doocy pressed Jean-Pierre on the implications of the ICE data, asking directly, “Thirteen-thousand people who’ve been convicted of murder crossed the border illegally and are living among us. So how much danger are U.S. communities in right now because of this?”
In response, Jean-Pierre disputed the accuracy of the numbers and criticized how the information was being reported. She labeled the statistics as a “false representation” of the current situation and pointed to several fact-checking sources that she claimed debunked the notion that these individuals pose an imminent threat.
Jean-Pierre asserted, “We got to call that out, and this has been fact-checked by some of your colleagues here, by multiple, multiple, multiple outlets. That has been debunked.”
She emphasized the need for accuracy in the data presented to the public, stating, “If we’re going to report something, and data that’s out there, we got to do it in the way that is not confusing the American people and certainly not lying.”
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While the headline figure of 13,099 convicted murderers living in the U.S. drew widespread attention, the ICE report also highlighted other significant statistics.
According to the letter, as of July 21, there were 662,566 non-citizens with criminal histories in the United States. This included 435,719 convicted criminals and 226,847 individuals facing pending criminal charges.
Additionally, 15,811 illegal immigrants convicted of sexual assault and 14,301 convicted of burglary were reported to be residing in the country.
One of the primary challenges for ICE in apprehending these individuals, particularly in sanctuary cities, is the lack of cooperation from local governments.
ICE has repeatedly expressed frustration that sanctuary city policies prevent them from enforcing detainer requests for criminal aliens, allowing dangerous individuals to remain in communities despite their criminal convictions.
Following Doocy’s exchange with Jean-Pierre, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided further clarification, stating that the data presented had been “misinterpreted.” DHS explained that the figures offered by ICE span four decades of criminal activity and do not necessarily reflect recent entries into the United States.
The spokesperson emphasized that it is unclear when the 13,000 convicted murderers first entered the country, meaning many may have been residing in the U.S. for years.
DHS’s explanation aimed to quell fears that these individuals had entered the country in large numbers recently, though the debate about their continued presence remains unresolved.
Recent high-profile cases involving illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes have further fueled public concern. In February 2024, Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was charged with the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley near the University of Georgia’s campus.
Just a few months later, in June, 23-year-old illegal immigrant Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez was arrested for the alleged rape and murder of 37-year-old Rachel Morin in Maryland. Both cases have been seized upon by opponents of the Biden administration’s immigration policies as examples of the dangers posed by allowing convicted criminals to remain in the U.S.
These cases have heightened awareness of the issue of criminal immigrants and the challenges ICE faces in detaining and deporting them. They also underscore the broader debate over border security and the balance between humanitarian concerns and national safety.
As the topic of illegal immigration and border security continues to dominate political discussions, the presence of convicted criminals living freely in the U.S. has become a focal point.
As the debate rages on, public opinion remains divided. Some see the ICE report as a confirmation of the dangers posed by illegal immigration, while others believe the data is being misrepresented to inflame anti-immigrant sentiment.
The issue of convicted criminals residing in the U.S. illegally is not new, but it has become a critical flashpoint in the immigration debate. ICE continues to face significant hurdles in apprehending and deporting these individuals, particularly in areas with sanctuary policies.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is under increasing pressure to address the concerns raised by both ICE and the public about border security.
As discussions about immigration reform continue, it remains to be seen whether political leaders can find a solution that balances national security with compassion for those seeking a better life in the United States.
