Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials published new data this week indicating there are as many as 425,000 convicted criminals living in the U.S. illegally.
The individuals identified by ICE are listed on the agency’s Non-Detained Docket, a component of its Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program. These programs ensure “compliance with release conditions” while ICE works to remove migrants from the U.S.
“ATD enables noncitizens to remain in their communities — contributing to their families and community organizations and, as appropriate, concluding their affairs in the U.S. — as they move through immigration proceedings or prepare for departure,” the ICE website reads. “[The program] also increases court appearance rates.”
Of the individuals on the docket, over 60,000 have been convicted of assault. Roughly 16,000 have been convicted of sexual assault and nearly 57,000 are guilty of crimes involving "dangerous drugs." The figures were last updated in July.
House Homeland Security Committee Chair Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., condemned the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies for allowing dangerous individuals into the country.
“It may be shocking to hear that the Biden-Harris administration is actively releasing tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens into our communities, but their own numbers conclusively prove this to be the case,” Rep. Green wrote. “This defies all common sense.”
“How many more Americans need to die or be victimized before this administration is forced to abide by the laws they swore to uphold?” Rep. Green asked. “This is madness. It is something no civilized, well-functioning society should tolerate.”
ICE told Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, in a letter the high figures stem from local prosecutors refusing to comply with its detainer requests, which ask police to hold migrants in custody to give ICE time to receive them. Many sanctuary cities purposely ignore these requests to avoid appearing prejudiced toward migrants.
“ICE recognizes that some jurisdictions are concerned that cooperating with federal immigration officials will erode trust with immigrant communities and make it harder for local law enforcement to serve those populations,” the agency wrote. “However, ‘sanctuary’ policies can end up shielding dangerous criminals, who often victimize those same communities.”
Several grieving parents blamed Vice President Kamala Harris on a Friday press call for the deaths of their children, saying her border policies allowed dangerous drugs and criminals to enter the U.S. The call, organized by the Trump campaign, came ahead of Harris’s visit Friday to the Arizona-Mexico border.
“Her reckless do-nothing approach directly resulted in the death of my son and countless other young Americans,” one mother said. “Our kids are supposed to learn from their mistakes but thanks to Kamala’s open borders, instead they die.”
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