ICE Arrests More Violent Criminals, Faces 1,000 Percent Spike in Assaults

The Pentagon is building a 5,000-bed detention site in Texas to house illegal immigrants.

Anti-ICE protesters confront federal agents and California National Guardsmen in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Officers from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested several criminal illegal immigrants who have been convicted of drug trafficking, sex crimes, and violent assaults, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in an Aug. 7 statement.

The DHS said one individual from Cuba has been convicted of aggravated assault in Texas, and another from China was convicted of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Pennsylvania. Still another from El Salvador was convicted in Louisiana for “carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile,” the department said.

“Our brave ICE law enforcement are now facing a 1000 percent increase in assaults against them as they risk their lives to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. These acts of violence are fueled by sanctuary politicians’ rhetoric vilifying our law enforcement,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

“We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Every day, our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals, including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators.”

In sanctuary jurisdictions, officials have refused to work with authorities seeking to enforce federal immigration laws. On Aug. 5, the Department of Justice released an updated list of such jurisdictions, naming 18 cities, 12 states, and the District of Columbia.

During a June 18 operation in Bellevue, Nebraska, the DHS arrested an illegal immigrant, also a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, for having “violently attacked” special agents from the FBI and ICE.

With arrests of criminal illegal immigrants rising, authorities have initiated a recruitment drive. In its Aug. 7 statement, DHS called on Americans “of any age” to apply for a position at ICE.

Noem had announced waiving age limits for new applicants to ICE on Wednesday so that more Americans could join. ICE is offering significant benefits, such as a $50,000 signing bonus, as well as student loan forgiveness and repayment options, to the signees.

Number of Illegals Drops

The DHS had recently reported that the agency had set record lows in July for both nationwide encounters and single-day border apprehensions of illegal immigrants.

There were 24,630 nationwide encounters with illegal immigrants last month, almost 90 percent lower than the monthly average under the previous administration, the agency said in an Aug. 1 statement.

Similarly, daily apprehensions averaged just 148, far lower than in July last year, when the average apprehension rate was 152 individuals every two hours.

Democrats have mostly opposed the immigration policies instituted by the Trump administration.

On Aug. 4, a group of Democrats wrote a letter to Trump administration officials, criticizing the announcements of various agencies to exclude illegal immigrants from accessing certain federal public benefits.

“These cruel and targeted actions are meant to confuse and undermine health care, education, and social service providers. They turn back nearly three decades of precedent and will make our communities less healthy, less educated, and less productive,” they wrote.

“We urge you to rescind this guidance immediately, to ensure continuity of services for children, workers, adult learners, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and seniors across the country.”

The lawmakers argued that these actions would negatively affect millions of people living in the country by adding new barriers to access critical government programs.

Meanwhile, an Aug. 7 statement from the Department of Defense (DOD) said the agency has started construction of a large detention center at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The construction, which began in mid-July, was initiated after the DHS requested assistance, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said during a briefing on Thursday.

The facility will initially have a capacity to hold 1,000 detainees and eventually hit 5,000 beds over the coming weeks and months.

“Upon completion, this will be the largest federal detention center in history for this critical mission—the deportation of illegal aliens,” Wilson said.

The press secretary also commended the Marines and National Guard for protecting people and property during the recent Los Angeles riots.

At the peak of the disturbances, there were thousands of rioters in Los Angeles, which has now dwindled to just 20 to 25 protesters, said Wilson.

“The deployment of 4,700 DOD service members played a crucial role in deterring rioters and ultimately bringing peace back to Los Angeles. In its support of federal law enforcement missions, DOD regularly assisted federal law enforcement and protected them from harm,” he said.