Additional Coverage:
- More than 13,000 immigrants convicted of homicide here or abroad are living freely in the U.S., ICE says (nbcnews.com)
Over 13,000 Immigrants Convicted of Homicide Living Freely in US
As of July 21st, there are over 13,000 immigrants convicted of homicide, both domestically and internationally, living in the US without being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These individuals are part of ICE’s "non-detained" docket, meaning they are not currently in custody due to various factors.
Lack of Resources and Cooperation
ICE lacks the resources and manpower to locate and arrest all these individuals. The agency prioritizes those convicted of serious crimes like homicide, but with over 7.5 million immigrants on their non-detained docket, many slip through the cracks. Some local jurisdictions, particularly sanctuary cities, do not notify ICE when migrants convicted of crimes are released after serving their sentences.
Trump’s Criticism
Former President Trump has seized on this data to criticize the Biden administration’s immigration policies. He claims these criminals are "vicious" and should be deported. The White House has not yet commented on the data.
Migrant Influx Under Previous Administrations
It is unclear when many of these immigrants entered the US, but law enforcement sources indicate that many crossed the border under previous administrations, including Trump’s. Some may have been released without ICE’s knowledge due to a lack of information about their criminal history.