Fact-Checking Noem's "Worst of the Worst" Immigrant Arrest Claims in Chicago

Noem's Claims on "Worst of the Worst" Arrests

• 🚨 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference in Chicago regarding the arrests of individuals she described as the "worst of the worst criminal, undocumented people."
• 🗣️ Noem criticized Illinois Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Johnson, stating their policies of releasing individuals back onto the streets have real consequences for law enforcement and residents.
• 🎯 She accused them of prioritizing criminals over citizens by repeatedly choosing to release individuals who would otherwise be in custody.

ICE Operations and Cooperation in Chicago

• 🤝 Secretary Noem chastised state and local law enforcement for a lack of cooperation with ICE operations.
• 📊 The Trump administration issued 1,664 ICE detainers in Chicago, which are requests for local law enforcement to hold individuals for up to 48 hours for federal custody.
• 📉 Only 8% of these detainers in Chicago were granted, according to Noem.

Reality Check on ICE Arrests

• ⚠️ A CBS News analysis indicates that ICE detention of non-criminal migrants has spiked, with only about 8% of those arrested under the Trump administration having violent convictions.
• 🔍 Noem stated ICE agents are targeting individuals with convictions, charges, and final orders of removal.

Federal Law Enforcement in Washington D.C.

• 🏛️ The Trump administration announced an increased federal law enforcement presence in Washington D.C. following a high-profile assault.
• 📉 Despite the increased presence, violent crime in D.C. has significantly decreased compared to the previous year, with drops in assaults, robberies, homicides, and carjackings.
• 🌃 Mayor Muriel Bowser implemented a district-wide curfew for individuals under 18 to address crime.

Military Action Against Drug Cartels

• ⚔️ President Trump has reportedly signed a directive allowing the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations.
• 🌍 This directive escalates the administration's campaign against cartels, moving from law enforcement to military action.
• 🇲🇽 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that U.S. military personnel would not be entering Mexico.