Data Expert Reveals True Extent of Illegal Migrants with Convictions in the US

The true scope of illegal migrants and their criminal activities in the United States may far exceed official estimates, raising concerns about illegal immigration and its impact on public safety. Recent data released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shed light on the alarming presence of noncitizens with murder convictions, but experts warn that the actual numbers could be significantly higher.

According to the ICE national docket, there are currently 13,099 noncitizens on the non-detained docket with homicide convictions. However, data experts caution that this figure does not account for the criminal records of migrants in their home countries, suggesting that the true number of noncitizens with murder convictions could be "tens of thousands" higher.

Flaws in Vetting Process

Sean Kennedy, a specialist in law enforcement and crime data analysis, emphasized the inadequacies in the vetting process for legal and illegal migrants. He pointed out that many migrants illegally entering the U.S. may have criminal backgrounds in their home countries that remain undisclosed due to insufficient communication or unshared databases. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the current immigration screening procedures.

Cases of High-Risk Migrants

One striking example cited by Kennedy is the case of Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, a Peruvian gang leader wanted for nearly two dozen murders in his home country. Despite his criminal background, he managed to enter the U.S. illegally and was later apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol. This incident underscores the failures in thoroughly screening migrants and highlights how violent criminals can exploit weaknesses in the immigration system.

Widespread Criminal Activity

ICE's data also revealed that among the non-detained docket, there are 62,231 convicted criminals for assault, 14,301 for burglary, 56,533 for drug-related offenses, and 2,521 for kidnapping, in addition to the 13,099 convicted of homicide. Kennedy pointed out that even if these individuals have served their sentences, they are not necessarily deported, as their home countries can refuse to accept them back.

Extrapolating from a Texas investigation into noncitizen crimes, experts suggest that the actual conviction rate for noncitizens involved in homicides could be significantly higher than reported. The investigation found that illegal immigrants were charged with over 1,100 homicides, more than 3,500 sexual assaults, and 3,700 other sex offenses since June 2011. This data suggests that noncitizens may be involved in a disproportionate number of serious crimes compared to the overall population.