Democrat Claims Majority of Recent DHS Arrestees Posed No Public Safety Threat

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., asserted Tuesday that for the first time this summer, the majority of individuals apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posed no threat to public safety. Speaking at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration enforcement, Jayapal contended that the Trump administration has increasingly focused its enforcement efforts on immigrants without criminal convictions or pending charges, rather than those with criminal records.

"For the first time this summer, the majority of people that DHS arrested were people who pose absolutely no threat to public safety, and the number of people with criminal convictions who are arrested by ICE actually decreased — decreased, not increased," Jayapal stated. She further argued that the administration's enforcement priorities are making communities less safe, citing that DHS expends energy on individuals without criminal backgrounds while Homeland Security Investigations agents who are meant to investigate serious crimes and human trafficking are redirected to street sweeps and routine traffic stops.

Jayapal's office previously stated in a press release that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data showed the majority of those arrested had zero criminal charges or convictions, and that arrests of immigrants without criminal records or pending charges had increased by 770%. Independent analyses of ICE data have also indicated that while overall ICE arrests reached record highs during the summer, the proportion of those arrested without criminal convictions or pending charges also rose.

These remarks come as the Trump administration highlights record immigration enforcement. According to DHS, ICE arrested nearly 51,000 undocumented immigrants nationwide in August, setting a new monthly record. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated, "The hard-working men and women of DHS continue to break records as they defend the homeland and protect the American people." He added, "For the third straight month, ICE set a new record for the highest number of illegal aliens arrested in a single month, nearly 51,000. This is promises made and promises kept in action. Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE is working around the clock every day to arrest and deport illegal aliens from American communities."

DHS also reported August arrests of undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes including murder, child pornography, and sexual assault of a minor. The department stated that more than 3 million undocumented immigrants have left the United States since Trump took office.