The White House and the Department of Homeland Security are pushing back against what they call “false narratives” promoted by mainstream outlets. Both the Washington Post and the New York Times recently reported that ICE arrests of illegal immigrants without U.S. criminal records are soaring. In response, the Trump administration highlighted data showing that almost seven‑in‑ten illegal immigrants seized by ICE have been convicted of a crime or face pending charges in the United States.
Administration’s Data Counters Media Story
Lauren Bis, a special assistant to the president and White House spokeswoman, told Fox News Digital that “nearly 70% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE have been convicted or charged with a crime in the United States.” She added that the “actual arrests of public safety threats and criminals is much higher” because many of those labeled “non‑criminal” by the media have prior criminal histories in their home countries, including murder, child sexual abuse and gang activity.
Examples of Dangerous Foreign Fugitives
The administration cited several recent ICE operations to illustrate the point. In May, Homeland Security Investigations arrested Salvadoran national Josue Saul Garcia‑Lopez, who, despite lacking a U.S. record, was wanted internationally as an active member of the MS‑13 terrorist organization and faced extortion and robbery charges in El Salvador.
Other cases include Honduran national Fredy Alexander Lopez Lara, who carried an international homicide warrant, and Salvadoran Danny Granados‑Garcia, also an MS‑13 member wanted for murdering a pastor. In March, Border Patrol agents in San Diego processed Mexican national Salvador Suazo‑Garcia, who entered the U.S. legally in 2021 but was wanted in Mexico for lewd acts involving a child. A female Mexican illegal immigrant, Silvia Del Rosario Torres‑Castro, was also arrested for a homicide warrant from her home country.
Late last year, ICE detained Antonio Israel Lazo‑Quintanilla, a Salvadoran member of the 18th Street Gang. While his only U.S. offense was driving without a license, he was on El Salvador’s most‑wanted list for aggravated homicide, extortion and drug possession. Earlier, Mexican brothers Pedro Luis Ortiz‑Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz‑Mendez were arrested in Texas for multiple murders tied to a festival attack in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
White House Calls Out Media Bias
Bis emphasized that these examples represent “just a few of the murderers, gang members, and pedophiles the media refers to as ‘non‑criminals’ because they only have criminal records in their home country.” She warned that “no one would want these heinous criminals to be their neighbors.” The spokeswoman argued that ICE is removing the “worst of the worst” from American streets and protecting communities across the nation.
Policy Context
The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of its policy agenda, arguing that strong borders are essential to public safety, family security, and the nation’s constitutional right to control who enters the country. By highlighting the criminal histories of many illegal immigrants, the administration seeks to counter narratives that portray ICE as targeting law‑abiding individuals.
Critics continue to point to the raw numbers of arrests without U.S. convictions, but officials stress that those figures do not account for foreign warrants, INTERPOL notices, or violent crimes committed abroad. The administration maintains that entering the United States unlawfully is itself a crime, and that ICE’s focus on public‑safety threats aligns with the Constitution’s grant of authority to the federal government over immigration.
Looking Ahead
As the debate over immigration policy continues, the White House says it will keep providing “the receipts” to demonstrate that ICE’s actions are driven by genuine threats to American families and neighborhoods. The administration urges the public and lawmakers to look beyond headline numbers and consider the full scope of criminal activity tied to illegal immigration.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
