The White House has yet to comment on new data released to lawmakers showing the number of illegal immigrants with convictions for sex offenses and homicide convictions who are not in ICE detention. The data provided to Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, breaks down the number of illegal immigrants with criminal charges or convictions as of July 2024, including those in detention and those who are not in detention, known as the non-detained docket. The non-detained docket includes more than 7.4 million people, up from around 3.7 million when former President Trump left office.
Among those not in detention, the data shows 425,431 convicted criminals and 222,141 with pending criminal charges, with the criminals including 62,231 convicted of assault, 14,301 convicted of burglary, 56,533 with drug convictions, and 13,099 convicted of homicide. An additional 2,521 have kidnapping convictions, and 15,811 have sexual assault convictions. The White House and Vice President Kamala Harris have not responded to requests for comments on the data, which has sparked outrage from Republicans who criticized the policies of the Biden administration and sanctuary jurisdictions.
Rep. Gonzales called the data “beyond disturbing” and emphasized the need for the Biden-Harris administration and cities across the country to prioritize the safety of American citizens. Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green also criticized the release of illegal immigrants into the U.S., calling it madness and something no civilized society should tolerate. ICE took aim at so-called “sanctuary” cities that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement in deporting illegal immigrant criminals.
The Biden administration has prioritized the removal of public safety and national security threats in narrowed priorities released in 2021. Critics have linked these priorities to a drop in ICE removals. Republicans have blamed the border crisis on the policies of the administration, including rolling back Trump policies that limited “catch and release.” The administration has called for more funding and reforms from Congress, including a bipartisan Senate bill introduced this year to increase the number of ICE detention beds.
As Vice President Harris visits the southern border in Arizona and seeks to present herself as tougher on the border than former President Trump, who she blames for the border bill not passing, the data’s release highlights concerns about the number of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions who are not in ICE detention. The White House has pointed to the need for congressional support for bipartisan immigration reforms while critics blame the administration for not prioritizing border security effectively.
