White House Rebuts Media Reports on ICE Arrests

The White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are countering what they describe as “false narratives” by mainstream media reports concerning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests. Recent articles from the Washington Post and New York Times suggest that noncriminal ICE arrests are increasing under President Donald Trump.

The Washington Post states ICE is detaining “soaring numbers” of illegal immigrants without criminal records, noting that the agency has arrested more noncriminals this year than in 2025. Similarly, the New York Times claims that “ICE arrests soar,” targeting those with no U.S. criminal record.

Lauren Bis, a White House spokeswoman, argues that nearly 70% of those arrested by ICE have convictions or charges in the U.S., but many so-called “noncriminal” arrests include individuals with criminal history abroad. This includes severe charges like murder, child sex abuse, and gang affiliation.

“These are just a few of the media’s ‘non-criminals,’” Bis questioned, highlighting that the mainstream media may be protecting criminal illegal aliens.

The DHS reports almost 70% of ICE arrests involve individuals with criminal convictions or pending charges in the U.S. However, this statistic excludes those wanted in foreign countries for violent crimes, INTERPOL notices, and other offenses.

DHS explains that illegal entry into the U.S. is a crime and emphasizes past serious charges of those deemed noncriminal arrests. They have shed light on several recent cases:

• Salvadoran national Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez was arrested despite missing a U.S. criminal record. An international warrant identified him as an MS-13 member involved in extortion in El Salvador.
• Fredy Alexander Lopez Lara, a Honduran national with a homicide warrant, was recently detained.
• MS-13 member Danny Granados-Garcia, wanted for murder, was arrested in April.

Several other arrests demonstrate the DHS’s claims:

• Mexican national Salvador Suazo-Garcia was apprehended in California. He was wanted for lewd acts upon a child in Mexico.
• Silvia Del Rosario Torres-Castro, wanted in Mexico for homicide, was also arrested.
• Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, a gang member, faced only a driving offense in the U.S. but is wanted for multiple felonies in El Salvador.
• Pedro Luis Ortiz-Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz-Mendez, wanted for festival-related murders in Mexico, were arrested in Texas.

Lauren Bis emphasizes the threat posed by these individuals, noting that ICE is removing serious criminals which the media often refers to as “non-criminals.” She cautions against portraying these arrests inaccurately.

Peter Pinedo contributes to this coverage for Fox News Digital.