Fact Check: 20+ million criminal aliens" flooded the U.S

Fact-Check: "20+ million criminal aliens" flooded the U.S.

What We Know

The claim that "20+ million criminal aliens" have flooded the U.S. is not supported by credible data. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), since the start of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, there have been over 10.8 million encounters nationwide, including more than 8.72 million at the Southwest border. However, this figure includes all encounters, not just those involving individuals with criminal backgrounds.

The House Committee on Homeland Security reported that as of October 2024, approximately 650,000 criminal illegal aliens were on ICE's Non-Detained Docket (NDD) as of July 21, 2024, which indicates the number of criminal aliens is significantly lower than the claim suggests (House Committee on Homeland Security). Furthermore, the total number of criminal aliens arrested by Border Patrol from FY 2017 to FY 2025 was reported to be 55,106 (ICE Enforcement Statistics).

Additionally, the term "criminal aliens" can be misleading. It encompasses a wide range of offenses, including non-violent crimes and immigration violations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides estimates of the illegal alien population in the U.S., but these figures do not support the notion of 20 million criminal aliens.

Analysis

The assertion that there are over 20 million criminal aliens in the U.S. appears to be a gross exaggeration. The figures from credible sources such as the CBP and the House Committee on Homeland Security indicate that while there has been a significant increase in border encounters, the number of individuals classified as criminal aliens is much lower than the claim suggests.

Moreover, the context in which the term "criminal aliens" is used can skew perceptions. For example, the ICE statistics indicate that many of the individuals categorized as criminal may not pose a significant threat to public safety. The figures cited by the House Committee also highlight a broader issue of immigration enforcement rather than a specific influx of dangerous individuals.

The reliability of the sources is mixed. The House Committee on Homeland Security's report is politically motivated and may have an agenda to highlight perceived failures in immigration policy. In contrast, data from the CBP and ICE are official statistics that provide a more grounded perspective on immigration enforcement.

Conclusion

Verdict: False

The claim that "20+ million criminal aliens" have flooded the U.S. is not substantiated by credible evidence. The actual number of criminal aliens is significantly lower, with estimates indicating around 650,000 individuals on ICE's Non-Detained Docket. The broader context of immigration enforcement and the definitions used in categorizing "criminal aliens" further complicate the narrative. Therefore, the assertion lacks factual basis and should be regarded as misleading.

Sources

1. Criminal Alien Statistics | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2. 100 days of record-breaking immigration enforcement in the U.S.
3. Estimates of the Illegal Alien Population Residing in the U.S.
4. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
5. Fiscal Year 2024 Ends With Nearly 3 Million Inadmissible Encounters
6. NEW DATA REVEAL WORSENING MAGNITUDE OF THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS
7. CBP Enforcement Statistics
8. Fact-checking Trump's Quotes About Immigrants