Fact Check: Ice are only going after criminals

Fact Check: "ICE are only going after criminals"

What We Know

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has multiple programs aimed at enforcing immigration laws, with a significant focus on individuals who have committed crimes. The Priority Enforcement Program (PEP) specifically targets individuals convicted of serious criminal offenses or those who pose a threat to public safety. This indicates that ICE does prioritize criminal activity in its enforcement actions.

Additionally, the Criminal Alien Program is designed to enhance ICE's ability to arrest and remove individuals who are in the country illegally and have criminal backgrounds. This further supports the claim that ICE's enforcement efforts are directed towards individuals with criminal records.

However, ICE's enforcement actions are not exclusively limited to those with criminal convictions. The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics provide insights into the demographics of individuals arrested, revealing that a portion of those detained may not have significant criminal histories. This suggests that while ICE emphasizes targeting criminals, their operations can also affect non-criminal individuals.

Analysis

The claim that "ICE are only going after criminals" is partially true, as there is substantial evidence that ICE prioritizes individuals with criminal backgrounds in its enforcement actions. The PEP and the Criminal Alien Program both indicate a strategic focus on individuals who have committed significant offenses.

However, the broader context of ICE's enforcement practices reveals that the agency's operations can extend beyond just criminals. The data from the Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics indicates that not all individuals arrested by ICE have criminal records, which complicates the narrative that ICE exclusively targets criminals.

Moreover, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Strategic Plan 2021-2025 outlines a comprehensive approach that includes intelligence-driven operations, which may involve detaining individuals for various reasons, not solely related to criminal activity. This suggests that while criminality is a key focus, it is not the sole criterion for ICE's enforcement actions.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, as they come directly from official ICE publications and government statistics. However, the interpretation of ICE's focus can vary based on the framing of data and the specific context in which enforcement actions are discussed.

Conclusion

The verdict is Partially True. While ICE does prioritize individuals with criminal backgrounds in its enforcement efforts, it is not accurate to state that they only target criminals. The agency's operations can include non-criminal individuals, indicating a broader scope of enforcement that extends beyond just criminal activity.