Experts Say Border Czar’s Comments on Criminal Immigrants Are Inaccurate

Tom Homan, the border czar under the Trump administration, has made the erroneous assertion that “over 600,000 illegal aliens with criminal records are walking in our communities.” This figure incorporates legal immigrants and includes individuals merely charged, not convicted, with criminal acts. Furthermore, the statistic encompasses entries spanning several decades. Homan first presented this claim on July 12 at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, following earlier statements on July 7, highlighting potential increases in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staffing. While the White House attributes Homan’s assertions to a letter by former DHS Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner, key clarifications are absent. Out of 647,572 individuals listed, over 20% had traffic violations. Additionally, around a third had merely been charged, leaving the outcome of many cases unknown. The data also fails to specify the immigration status of those listed, complicating the narrative around criminal history and immigrant categorization.