Latest news with #TriciaMcLaughlin
Axios
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
Dallas-area ICE arrests of noncriminals skyrocketed
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of people without criminal charges or convictions in the Dallas area soared in June, per data compiled by the Deportation Data Project. Why it matters: The surge follows a national trend that coincides with the Trump administration's decision on May 21 to triple ICE's arrest quota. By the numbers: In January, ICE agents arrested 1,085 total people in the Dallas Field Office region, which includes North Texas, the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma. As of June 26 — the most recent data available — the monthly arrest figure increased 59% to 1,726. Zoom in: The monthly share of Dallas-area ICE detainees without criminal charges or convictions more than doubled, from 197 in January (18% of all arrests) to 524 (30%) in June. The big picture: Nationwide, people without criminal charges or convictions made up an average of 47% of daily ICE arrests in early June, up from about 21% in early May, before the quota increase. The other side: "The media continues to peddle this FALSE narrative that ICE is not targeting criminal illegal aliens," Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Axios. McLaughlin added that 70% of ICE arrests were for immigrants with criminal convictions or pending charges, but did not elaborate on that figure. Between the lines: " ICE has the authority to arrest immigrants who are suspected of violating immigration laws, regardless of criminal history," writes Austin Kocher, research assistant professor at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and immigration expert, in an analysis of the new data. "Nevertheless, the administration has gone to great lengths in the press and on social media to emphasize the criminality of people they are arresting. Both things can be true, of course."
Axios
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
ICE arrests of noncriminals surge in the DMV
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of people without criminal charges or convictions have jumped in D.C., Virginia and Maryland, newly obtained data shows. Why it matters: The numbers illustrate a major shift that occurred soon after the Trump administration tripled ICE's daily arrest quota. Driving the news: In Virginia and D.C., people without criminal charges or convictions made up an average of 60% of daily ICE arrests in early June, per agency data obtained by the UC Berkeley School of Law's Deportation Data Project. That's up from about 50% in early May, before the quota increase. That percentage was only slightly lower in Maryland: 55%, up from 49% in May. In January, ICE didn't conduct any D.C. noncriminal arrests. The big picture: Nationwide, an average of 47% of daily ICE arrests were of people without criminal records in early June, a jump from about 21% a month prior. The spike came despite the Trump administration's claimed focus on criminals living in the country illegally. And it happened just after the Trump administration told ICE to arrest at least 3,000 people daily, up from 1,000. The other side: Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Axios that 70% of ICE arrests were for immigrants with criminal convictions or pending charges, but did not elaborate on that figure. Context: Being in the U.S. illegally is a civil, not criminal, violation. The intrigue: Virginia is one of a few states where efforts to arrest and remove unauthorized immigrants is most aggressive. In February, the state launched the nation's first task force that partners with federal agencies to target illegal immigration. Feds have also accessed Virginia's automatic license plate reader system for immigration enforcement this year — though a new state law more strictly regulates the use for criminal or missing/endangered person investigations only. By the numbers: Overall, ICE arrests are up more than 350% in Virginia since 2024, according to the New York Times. Nearly 3,000 people were arrested between January and May — nearly outpacing larger states like New York. Meanwhile, ICE has been ramping up enforcement at courthouses across the U.S. Zoom in: Fairfax County, home to hundreds of thousands of immigrants and Virginia's largest immigration court, has seen twice as many arrests as others in the state, according to the Times. Advocates say ICE agents arrested several people showing up for immigration hearings at the Annandale courthouse last month. Flashback: Immigration enforcement at courthouses wasn't allowed under the Biden administration. It's happened in others, but not commonly.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Eyebrow-raising 22-year-old named leader of anti-terrorism unit says he is just a low-level staffer and denies having any power
A 22-year-old Trump administration appointee with no national security experience whose leadership role at a Department of Homeland Security anti-terror unit prompted criticism now denies he had any real power to begin with. "All decisions came down from policy leadership, [the] undersecretary, deputy secretary, and chief of staff," Thomas Fugate, who was appointed in February, told Fox News of his role at the agency's Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, known as CP3. "It's only when you take it out of context and blow it out of proportion that it then becomes a massive problem where people think I'm practically running the FBI," he added. In the same article, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called Fugate the victim of a media 'smear campaign,' and said, 'Fugate never held the director role at CP3, and to imply that he had operational control or exercised leadership over CP3 is simply untrue, as we have consistently told them." In June, ProPublica reported that Fugate, a recent college graduate and Trump campaign worker, had been tapped for a major role at CP3 after the center's previous director, national security veteran Bill Braniff, resigned in March in the face of Trump administration funding cuts. 'Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office,' an administration official told the outlet. 'This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job.' National security professionals were alarmed by Fugate's rise, comparing it to putting 'the intern in charge' of an outfit dedicated to funding programs aimed at preventing domestic shootings and terror attacks. Democratic critics of the president also hammered the move, including Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. 'Never worked a day in counter-terrorism,' Murphy wrote on X. 'But he's a BIG Trump fan. So he got the job.' Prior to serving in the Trump administration, Fugate interned with Texas lawmakers and at the conservative Heritage Foundation, as well as worked in landscaping and at a grocery store. Braniff, the former head of CP3, has criticized the cuts to the office, including an $18.5 million funding cut last week that Homeland Security said was targeting 'wasteful and ideologically driven' programs tied to diversity and LGBT+ work. 'When people say, 'You can't prove prevention doesn't work,' I ask them, 'Do you go to the doctor? Do you have a smoke detector in your home?' Then you believe in prevention,' Braniff, now the head of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University, told NBC News. 'Do I know for certain that we helped to avert school shootings and mass casualty attacks? I am 99% sure that we helped to avert a number of them,' he added. As part of its push to increase border security and rapidly deport millions, the Trump administration has shifted resources and agents away from areas like counterterrorism, though by June the FBI was reportedly considering shifting thousands of agents back to threats from foreign adversaries. Acts of violence and extremism have taken place during the Trump administration, including a fire attack on marchers in Colorado raising awareness of Israeli hostages, the arson of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence, and the shooting of two Israeli Embassy workers in Washington.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
DHS Responds to 'Cartel-Tok' Videos of Drug Smuggling Going Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded to viral videos glamorizing cartel activity and drug smuggling, with officials emphasizing the ongoing efforts to crack down on what they call "depraved" criminal networks. The content, some of which shows what appears to be cocaine being processed and transported, includes footage of what seem to be dismembered limbs, allegedly belonging to a cartel-affiliated smuggler. The videos have drawn widespread attention and alarm, contributing to what online users have dubbed the "Cartel-Tok" trend, where criminal groups glorify cartel life and showcase violent or illegal activity. "While DHS has not verified the authenticity of the content this particular account has shared, our brave ICE officers, CBP agents and U.S. Coast Guard are working day-in and day-out to protect Americans from the threat of these depraved cartel members who glorify violence," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek. File photo shows cocaine. File photo shows cocaine. AP Why It Matters President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating Mexican drug cartels and other Latin American groups as terrorist organizations. Trump's order says that these groups "threaten the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere." What To Know "On day one of his presidency, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. These depraved thugs rape, maim, torture and poison Americans," McLaughlin said. Dubbed "Cartel-Tok" by social media users, a growing number of videos posted to platforms like TikTok depict people allegedly affiliated with Latin American drug cartels showcasing large drug shipments. Some videos have racked up millions of views. A TikTok account under the username @$rugcoin has shared several videos depicting what appears to be a drug smuggler with a video caption that reads "POV: You Work for the cartel." The videos often portray illegal smuggling as daring or heroic, raising fears that they may be influencing young viewers or aiding recruitment efforts by cartels. One video text caption reads: "Family business on Colombia," and another says: "We are hiring more people." The account under $RUGCOIN is also promoting a new memecoin project. DHS has not confirmed whether the people shown in the viral content are actual cartel members. Arturo Fontes, a retired FBI agent, told Newsweek that the social media videos can "entice" young people. What People Are Saying Arturo Fontes, a retired FBI agent, told Newsweek: "These videos glamorize the role of drug dealers and violent crime, particularly appealing to young people—often referred to as "fresas," or middle-class youths—who lack motivation for education or employment. Unfortunately, many of these individuals are disillusioned with the traditional path and are enticed by the allure of fast money, luxurious lifestyles, and superficial beauty without any effort or hard work." DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: "Under Secretary Noem's leadership, DHS has near complete operational control of the border that the Biden administration recklessly left wide-open for cartels to exploit by trafficking humans and drugs into the U.S. Our personnel will continue to dismantle and disrupt nefarious criminals who pose a threat to the safety of our country."
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Sanctuary city politicians have 'blood on their hands,' says DHS official
Assistant DHS Sec. Tricia McLaughlin criticizes sanctuary city policies after Megan Bos's body was discovered in a storage container at an illegal immigrant's home in Illinois and two migrants attacked a CBP officer in New York City.
