The White House and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have rebutted claims by mainstream media regarding noncriminal ICE arrests. Reports from the Washington Post and New York Times suggested a spike in arrests of noncriminal illegal immigrants under President Donald Trump.
The Washington Post recently stated that ICE has detained more individuals without a criminal record this year than in 2025. Likewise, the New York Times reported that ICE arrests are rising, targeting those without criminal histories.
Lauren Bis, special assistant and spokeswoman for the White House, told Fox News Digital that nearly 70% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE in the U.S. are either convicted of or charged with crimes. She emphasized that many so-called noncriminal arrests involve individuals with prior criminal records from their home countries, including severe offenses like murder and gang activity.
“These are just a few of the media’s ‘non-criminals,’” Bis said, questioning why mainstream media narratives appear to defend criminal illegal aliens.
According to DHS, “nearly 70% of illegal aliens ICE arrested across the country have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges just in the U.S.” However, the statistic does not include those wanted for violent crimes overseas, human rights violations, or other serious offenses.
DHS has highlighted numerous arrests where individuals may not have U.S. criminal records but are implicated in dangerous activities abroad. For instance, Salvadoran national Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez was arrested without a U.S. criminal record but identified as an MS-13 member with an international warrant for extortion and robbery in El Salvador.
Other notable arrests include Fredy Alexander Lopez Lara, a Honduran national with a warrant for homicide, and Salvadoran national Danny Granados-Garcia, an MS-13 member wanted for murder.
In March, Border Patrol agents arrested Salvador Suazo-Garcia, wanted in Mexico for crimes against a child, and arrested Silvia Del Rosario Torres-Castro, wanted for homicide. Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, another arrest, involved a member of the 18th Street Gang on El Salvador’s most wanted list for multiple serious crimes.
DHS also notes the arrest of siblings Pedro Luis Ortiz-Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz-Mendez, wanted in Mexico for violent acts at a festival. The agency stresses its efforts to remove dangerous individuals from U.S. streets.
Bis stated, “These are just a few examples of murderers, gang members, and individuals labeled as ‘non-criminals’ for their foreign records.”
Lauren Bis emphasizes the importance of ICE operations in maintaining public safety by arresting foreign fugitives and known criminals.
Peter Pinedo, a writer for Fox News Digital, reported on this development.
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