Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) published its year-end report, stating that the illegal immigrants arrested by ICE during fiscal year (FY) 2020 had an average of four criminal convictions or pending criminal charges each. The United States is home to about 10.5 million undocumented immigrants. ICE made this announcement highlighting the commendable work the agency has achieved in cracking down on criminal illegal immigrants.
Average of Four Criminal Convictions or Charges
According to the figures released by ICE, it conducted 103,603 administrative arrests in FY 2020. Of those arrested, 90% had criminal convictions or charges at the time of the arrest. The arrested immigrants had a total of more than 374,000 convictions and charges, an average of four per person.
In FY 2019, ICE agents arrested more than 143,000 people in the interior. The most convictions or criminal charges pending against them were for driving under the influence (74,000), followed by drug offenses (67,000). Only 1,900 had been charged or convicted of homicide.
Convictions or criminal charges of the aliens arrested also included 1,800 homicide-related crimes, 1,600 kidnappings, 37,000 assaults, and 10,000 sex crimes, according to ICE data. Further, ICE announced that in FY 2020 they had successfully deported 185,884 immigrants. Of those, 4,276 were known or suspected gang members, 675 of whom are believed to be members of the brutal gang MS-13. It was also reported that 31 were known or suspected terrorists.
Illegal Immigrants Arrested in FY 2020
Federal law gives ICE agents jurisdiction within 100 miles of the border, which is defined as any external boundary, like an ocean. Searches are conducted within the 100-mile area, and agencies can interrogate and arrest anyone without a warrant, as long as they have “reasonable cause to suspect that grounds exist for denial of admissions to the United States,” says the law. As the state of Florida is covered by water on three sides, it is within the warrantless areas. Accordingly, the Trump administration’s most extensive searches are conducted in Florida.
In October of 2020, ICE arrested International students across the United States in an operation called Operation Optical Illusion. Further, in November 2020, ICE announced that it is considering a new detention site in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-New York area.