Republicans Urge ICE To Do What?
Washington, D.C. – A group of Hispanic Republican lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to make violent criminal migrants the top priority for deportation, as immigration enforcement efforts ramp up across the country.
In a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, six GOP members led by Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) called for immediate action to target illegal aliens charged with serious crimes—including murder, human trafficking, and sexual assault.
“We support ICE’s mission to protect the homeland,” the lawmakers wrote. “But with limited resources, we must focus on those who pose an immediate threat to American families and communities.”
The letter is a direct response to recent reports showing that ICE has increased arrests of nonviolent migrants, even as over 600,000 criminal illegals remain on ICE’s docket, many with convictions for violent crimes or ties to drug cartels and gangs.
Target Criminals First — Not Law-Abiding Workers, Say Lawmakers
The lawmakers emphasized that while all who enter the U.S. illegally have violated immigration law, public safety demands prioritization. Every minute spent arresting someone without a criminal record, they argued, is a minute not spent tracking down dangerous felons, cartel smugglers, and gang members.
Joining Rep. Gonzales on the letter were:
- Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL)
- Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
- Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO)
- Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)
All six legislators represent districts with large Hispanic populations, and all support President Trump’s law-and-order immigration policy.
“We stand with President Trump and his promise to secure America’s borders,” they wrote. “But true border security starts by removing every violent criminal alien before another innocent American is harmed.”
ICE: Over 600,000 Criminal Aliens on Docket
According to the letter, ICE told Rep. Gonzales last year that over 600,000 illegal immigrants with criminal charges are currently on file. These charges range from murder and sexual abuse to human smuggling and gang activity.
The GOP lawmakers are demanding data on how many of the 100,000 deportations since January involved individuals convicted of violent crimes or affiliated with transnational criminal organizations.
Trump Admin Faces Pushback from the Left Over Tougher Deportation Tactics
Despite these efforts, President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration has drawn criticism from liberal activists and Democrat politicians. Critics claim ICE raids are too aggressive, but supporters argue that the focus is simply returning to common-sense law enforcement after the soft-on-crime policies under Biden.
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar and former acting ICE director, confirmed that the administration will expand workplace enforcement—targeting companies that hire illegal labor and undercut American workers.
ICE has also begun dismissing pending immigration court cases and placing migrants into expedited removal proceedings immediately after court appearances—sending a clear message that illegal entry will not be tolerated.
Biden-Era Policies Gutted Enforcement, Say Experts
Under Biden, ICE was told to avoid deporting migrants unless they were recent arrivals, violent felons, or national security threats—a policy that allowed countless illegal aliens to remain in the country despite prior criminal records.
But with Trump back in charge, the focus has shifted: America’s security comes first, and lawbreakers will be removed.
