Washington Democrat claims majority of recent DHS arrestees posed 'no threat to public safety', tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/washington-democrat-claims-majority-recent-dhs-arrestees-posed-no-threat-public-safety)
16-09-2026
The Fox News article reports on statements made by Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington, during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration enforcement.Key Details from the Report
- Jayapal’s Claims:
- Representative Jayapal claimed that, for the first time during the summer, the majority of people arrested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posed “absolutely no threat to public safety.”
- She argued that the Trump administration has increasingly directed enforcement efforts toward individuals without criminal convictions or pending charges, while the number of arrests involving individuals with prior criminal records actually declined.
- Citing data previously highlighted by her office, she noted that arrests of undocumented immigrants without criminal records had risen sharply (by roughly 770%), with non-criminals making up the majority of recent apprehensions.
- She criticized this enforcement approach, arguing that redirecting specialized agentssuch as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel who focus on human trafficking and serious organized crimeinto street-level sweeps and routine traffic stops ultimately makes communities less safe.
- DHS and Administration Perspective:
- The article contrasts Jayapal’s remarks with statements from DHS leadership highlighting record-high immigration enforcement numbers under President Donald Trump.
- According to DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 51,000 undocumented immigrants in August, setting a record for the highest single-month total.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin characterized the operations as delivering on administration promises to locate and remove individuals residing in the country unlawfully.
- The department also highlighted targeted arrests and deportations of individuals with severe criminal histories, including convictions for homicide, sexual assault involving minors, and child exploitation, stating that over 3 million undocumented immigrants had departed the United States since Trump resumed office.