Jayapal says majority of recent DHS arrestees posed ‘no threat to public safety'
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., claimed that "for the first time this summer," the majority of people arrested by DHS posed "absolutely no threat to public safety."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., claimed Tuesday that "for the first time this summer," the majority of people arrested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "pose absolutely no threat to public safety."
Speaking during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration enforcement, Jayapal argued the Trump administration has increasingly focused its immigration enforcement on immigrants without criminal convictions or pending criminal 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 said.
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Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., claimed Tuesday that "for the first time this summer," the majority of people arrested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "pose absolutely no threat to public safety." (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
She argued the administration's enforcement priorities are making communities "less safe."
"That’s because when DHS expends all of its energy to go after parents, longtime friends, neighbors, when [Homeland Security Investigations] agents who are supposed to investigate serious crime and human trafficking are instead being moved to street sweeps and riding along with local police for random traffic stops, we are less safe, not more safe."
Jayapal's comments echoed claims her office made in a Sept. 1 press release, which said ICE data showed "the majority of people they arrest have zero criminal charges or convictions" and that arrests of immigrants without criminal convictions or pending criminal charges had increased 770%.
Independent analyses of ICE data have likewise found that while overall ICE arrests reached record highs during the summer, the share of people arrested without criminal convictions or pending criminal charges also increased.
Her remarks come as the Trump administration has touted record immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
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Jayapal's remarks come as the Trump administration has highlighted record immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 51,000 illegal immigrants nationwide in August, according to DHS, marking the highest monthly total on record.
"The hard-working men and women of DHS continue to break records as they defend the homeland and protect the American people," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
Mullin 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 highlighted August arrests of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes including murder, child pornography and sexual assault of a minor.
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DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin previously said "the hard-working men and women of DHS continue to break records as they defend the homeland and protect the American people." (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
According to DHS, more than 3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since Trump returned to office.
"Since day one, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. We will continue to deliver on the President’s promise to make America safe again," a spokesperson for DHS told Fox News Digital in an email.
"Nationwide, our law enforcement is targeting public safety threats — including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists. Most illegal aliens ICE arrested across the country have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges just in the U.S. This doesn’t account for those wanted for violent crimes in their home country or another country, INTERPOL notices, human rights abusers, gang members, terrorists, etc. The list goes on," the spokesperson added.
"Further, every single one of these individuals committed a crime when they came into this country illegally."
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A spokesperson for Jayapal could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.
