White House and DHS Reject Media Claims on ICE Arrests

This week, the White House and Department of Homeland Security robustly countered claims from the Washington Post and New York Times. These publications reported an increase in noncriminal arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Trump.

The Washington Post highlighted a significant rise in arrests of illegal immigrants without criminal records this year. Similarly, the New York Times noted that ICE increasingly targets individuals with no criminal background. However, the White House disputed these reports.

Lauren Bis, White House spokeswoman, confirmed to Fox News Digital that nearly 70% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE either have U.S. criminal convictions or are facing charges. She emphasized that many are public safety threats due to prior crimes in their home countries, including murder and child sex abuse.

“These are the so-called ‘non-criminals’ the media discusses,” said Bis.

The Department of Homeland Security provided further data, noting that the statistic does not consider individuals wanted for violent crimes internationally. This includes INTERPOL notices, gang affiliations, and other serious offenses abroad.

Recently, Homeland Security Investigations apprehended Salvadoran national Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez. Although he had no U.S. criminal record, he was reported as an MS-13 member involved in crimes in El Salvador.

In another instance, ICE arrested Fredy Alexander Lopez Lara, a Honduran national with a homicide warrant. Similarly, Salvadoran national Danny Granados-Garcia, also an MS-13 member, faced arrest by ICE for murder charges in his home country.

Among other arrests, Salvador Suazo-Garcia, a Mexican national wanted for crimes against a minor, was captured in California. Silvia Del Rosario Torres-Castro and Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, who had warrants in Mexico and El Salvador respectively, were taken into custody.

Lazo-Quintanilla, linked to the 18th Street Gang, was sought for severe crimes such as aggravated homicide and extortion. His criminal activities in El Salvador were not initially detected during his U.S. entry.

Mexican brothers Pedro Luis Ortiz-Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz-Mendez, wanted for multiple murders, also faced arrest in Texas.

Bis questioned the media’s portrayal of these individuals as noncriminals. She underscored the risk of having such individuals within communities.

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Peter Pinedo, a politics writer, contributed this piece to Fox News Digital.