Latest news with #ToddLyons
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump's immigration enforcement push results in skyrocketing arrests of criminal illegal aliens
The number of criminal illegal immigrants arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has soared during the Trump administration, authorities said Tuesday. Statistics vary from state-to-state, but ICE has arrested illegal immigrants convicted of various crimes, including murder, rape and other violent offenses, the agency said. Since Trump took office in January, ICE arrests in Maryland have jumped 290% and a staggering 470% in Virginia, the agency said. In South Carolina, arrests have more than tripled. In Michigan, ICE arrests have jumped 145% since Trump took office. Colorado and Wyoming have seen almost five times as many arrests compared to the same time period under former President Joe Biden. Across eight western states – Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and California – arrests of illegal immigrants each month since January have nearly tripled. In Chicago, ICE arrested three times as many illegal immigrants convicted of crimes during the first 150 days of the Trump administration compared to Biden's final 150 days in office, ICE said. Additionally, in the San Diego region, immigration arrests have increased 400% compared to this time last year. The arrests come at a time when jurisdictions like Los Angeles and other cities have demanded that ICE stop raids targeting criminal illegal immigrants. In addition, attacks on ICE personnel have increased 830% compared to 2024, Acting ICE director Todd Lyons told CBS' "Face the Nation" in an interview that aired Sunday. "I think the sharp increase in the rhetoric, especially from a lot of elected officials, that are shaming, if you will, or speaking out against [the] ICE law enforcement mission, is what's really increasing these attacks on officers," he said.
Fox News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE chief warns AI technology could lead to safety risks for agents: 'Fringe organizations'
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Far-left organizations could be using artificial intelligence and other technology to reveal the identity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told Fox News Digital in an interview. Lyons' remarks come as Democrats in Congress recently proposed the VISIBLE Act, which would require clear identification of ICE agents and prevent masking of federal immigration authorities in public-facing circumstances. "If legislation passes to try to unmask ICE agents, they are not allowed to wear them, it runs the risk of agitators, different groups, you know, these fringe organizations using reverse technology, AI, to try to dox their families, try to get their identity, their home addresses," Lyons said of the reaction from agents on the ground. "We've heard elected officials say there shouldn't be any rest for ICE agents or their families. "So they're definitely concerned about that. They're also concerned about their own well-being when they go out to effectuate these arrests because now we have to send more officers out into the communities because where we can send four or five to make arrests in the past, now we had to send up to eight or 10 just to protect the four that are making the arrests of one individual." MASSACHUSETTS BILL WOULD FORCE ICE AGENTS TO UNMASK He added that the safety risk does require more resources when conducting arrests. When ICE was conducting operations in Los Angeles in June, President Donald Trump sent in the California National Guard to the city with the goal of protecting agents and quelling riots. That move was legally challenged by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. "The Marines are withdrawing. This is another win for Los Angeles," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted to X Monday. ICE agents have faced an 830% increase in assaults since last year, according to DHS. However, proponents of the VISIBLE Act have said it's nessescary for accountability. "For weeks, Americans have watched federal agents with no visible identification detain people off the streets and instill fear in communities across the country," Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, said in a statement July 8. "Reports of individuals impersonating ICE officers have only increased the risk to public and officer safety. The lack of visible identification and uniform standards for immigration enforcement officers has created confusion, stoked fear and undermined public trust in law enforcement." DHS FIRES BACK AT DEMOCRATS FOR 'BEYOND THE PALE' RHETORIC AS ICE AGENTS FACE WAVE OF VIOLENT THREATS "Assault could be anything from resisting arrest where they assault the officers, whether they're kicking, grabbing officers. It could be something as dramatic as what we saw in Alvarado, Texas, where we had local police ambushed with firearms," Lyons said. "You saw it during the recent marijuana grow farm raid operation, where we had an individual firing a handgun at ICE officers, rocks thrown at them. It's everything from verbal assault to physical assault to threats of bodily harm, deadly force. It's run the whole gamut." Authorities have charged 12 people in an alleged anti-ICE attack at the Prairieland Detention Center on Independence Day, including ten for alleged attempted murder of federal officers and gun offenses. Reports have indicated that some planning occurred through a Signal group chat, and Lyons noted that this was likely planned by the Dallas area activists for some time. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE "Well, the FBI is doing a great job investigating it as a whole organized event," Lyons said. "So, you saw where it was actually organized with social media, where you have organized people in a typical L-shaped ambush where you had escape vehicles. So, without getting too much into what the Department of Justice and the FBI do, there is definitely evidence that this was planned for a while, and it wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment protest. These were agitators focused on assaulting law enforcement officers and assaulting ICE." In terms of facing these coordinated efforts, the director said it's a matter of planning and looking at the information available before conducting an operation. ACTING ICE DIRECTOR CALLS MAYOR WU'S NEO-NAZI COMPARISON 'DISGUSTING' AMID INCREASE IN AGENT ASSAULTS "What we're doing is definitely working with all of our federal partners as well as the state partners that do coordinate with us what we use and all the intelligence that we have at our disposal to go ahead and try to find out as much about these groups and as much as about these organizations and these planned events that we can to let our officers and agents know in the field prior to going out," Lyons said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "So, we wanna make sure that officers are fully aware of what the situations they're getting into, but we are also making sure that we're properly staffed when we go out." In addition, he said recent funding from the "big, beautiful bill" would be to try to bring back personnel that "retired early" under the Biden administration and look at veterans and officials at the local and state levels who "already have the training" to "beef up" staffing at the agency.
Fox News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE director slams 'disgusting, completely unhinged' posts by Ohio man who allegedly threatened to kill agents
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! ICE's acting director is speaking out against an Ohio man who is facing federal charges for making "multiple threats online to shoot and kill ICE officers," calling his alleged posts "disgusting and completely unhinged." Anthony Kelly, 38, of Cincinnati, wrote "#RevolutionIsTheSolution #DestroyICE they're rabid dogs that need to be put down. Including #KristiNoem" in one of his alleged social media posts, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Tuesday. "Let me be crystal clear: Threatening to kill a federal officer is not protest — it's terrorism," acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement. "Anthony Kelly's violent threats, while disgusting and completely unhinged, are a symptom of a larger problem: Politicians are trying to turn our law enforcement officials into targets by scaring their constituents and whipping them into a frenzy in a fact-free vacuum. "This is what happens when anti-ICE activists don't realize or care that we're out there arresting rapists, murderers and child molesters who are in this country illegally. Enough is enough. Anyone who targets ICE personnel will be met with swift, unrelenting justice," he added. MAN BUSTED WITH ANTI-GOVERNMENT, ANTI-TRUMP DOCUMENTS AFTER TEXAS ICE AMBUSH SUSPECT PHONE CALL, FEDS SAY ICE said its Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI arrested Kelly on July 19. He was federally charged with threatening to assault, kidnap or murder a United States official, as well as transmitting communications containing threats to kidnap or injure another person. "Law enforcement became aware of a social media user going by the name of 'Slab' after he allegedly made multiple social media posts calling for the killing of ICE officers and detailing his acquisition of firearms to carry out that threat," ICE added. "After an investigation, the user making these posts was identified as Kelly, who lives in the Cincinnati area." MORE DETAILS REVEALED ON SUSPECTS IN INDEPENDENCE DAY ICE ATTACK IN TEXAS The agency said in one post, Kelly allegedly wrote "Why even bother with these d--- courts anymore. #Gestapedos don't deserve anything but the smoke coming for them anyway." "You come here for me, you're getting shot. And I'm not looking to disable […] I'm shooting for the kill. I won't give a **** about your names, who you are, or anything else," he reportedly said in another. Kelly now remains in custody pending federal court proceedings. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Calling for violence against federal law enforcement is not protected by the First Amendment," HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey said. "At great personal risk, ICE agents and officers faithfully enforce laws passed by our representatives in Congress. If members of the public disagree with our nation's laws, they need to write their representatives, not threaten violence against those charged with carrying out the law."
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE torches 'deafening' silence from Mamdani on CBP officer shooting
The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is blasting leading New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for his "deafening" silence in the wake of Saturday night's shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer in a city park. In a statement to Fox News Digital, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said, "The silence from Zohran Mamdani is not just deafening, it's deliberate, disturbing, and sadly predictable." Lyons went on to say that Mamdani's "reckless anti-law enforcement policy positions would endanger legal, law-abiding New Yorkers." "His silence in the face of this brutal attack speaks volumes about where his priorities lie, and it's not with public safety and the American people," said Lyons. This comes after an alleged attempted robbery by two criminal illegal immigrants, Dominican nationals Cristian Aybar Berroa and Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, led to a shootout in which an off-duty CBP officer was struck in the face and forearm. He has been hospitalized and is in stable condition. Nunez was shot in the leg and groin during the shootout, police said. He was dropped off at a hospital in the Bronx, according to authorities. Both suspects have been apprehended. In response to the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said New York City sanctuary policies are responsible. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that "sanctuary politicians must condemn this violence and put the safety and security of our citizens first." "Make no mistake: these criminal illegal aliens pulled the trigger, but Zohran Mamdani, and other sanctuary politicians in this country have blood on their hands," said McLaughlin, adding, "Secretary Noem is calling on every politician at every level of government to abandon these reckless, lawless policies and stop playing Russian roulette with American lives." She added that DHS "will continue to flood the zone in sanctuary cities and remove these criminals one by one." Meanwhile, Mamdani, who, as the Democratic nominee, is the likely frontrunner for New York City mayor, has yet to address the incident. Mamdani's social media posts and website show no public statement on the matter, which has become national news and sparked a broader discussion of President Joe Biden's border policies and criticism of sanctuary cities. Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's campaign for comment but did not immediately hear back. Mamdani has been widely criticized for his previous calls to defund the police and his stated opposition to working with Trump to deport illegal immigrants if he is elected mayor in November. After winning the primary race in June, Mamdani said he would halt "masked" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from "deporting our neighbors." The mayoral hopeful announced on Sunday that he was headed to Uganda "in a personal capacity" to celebrate his marriage to his wife, Rama, with their family and friends. "I do want to apologize to the haters, because I will be coming back," he said, adding he would return to New York City "by the end of the month." Some of Mamdani's opponents have responded to the shooting by calling for the arrest of criminal illegals. On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams said he would "welcome" the Trump administration sending more ICE agents to New York City if they "go after dangerous people like this individual who shot an innocent Customs and Border Patrol agent." Adams noted, however, that "if it's going to be to go after everyday individuals who are trying to complete the path to be a citizen, I don't think we should do that." Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa has said, "I am the only candidate on the ballot who opposes sanctuary city status. Adams, Cuomo, and Mamdani all support it." Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running for mayor as an independent, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Federal immigration authorities have faced an increase in public scrutiny from Democrats and left-wing activist groups, even to the point of violence. Border Patrol was targeted in an ambush earlier this month at an annex facility in McAllen, Texas, where a local police officer was hit in the leg, and two Border Patrol personnel were injured. The gunman was killed. In addition, 12 individuals are facing charges, including 10 for attempted murder of federal officers, in an Independence Day attack outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, intended to target ICE agents. A police officer was shot in the neck but is expected to recover, and cars were vandalized. Overall, ICE agents have faced an 830% increase in assaults since this time last year as the Trump administration continues to ramp up deportation and immigration enforcement efforts, according to DHS.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
ICE chief will continue to permit mask use by agents
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting Director Todd Lyons said agents can continue to use masks in the field, even as the agency has increasingly come under fire for moves that limit identification of its personnel. In an interview on CBS's 'Face the Nation' on Sunday, Lyons defended the practice despite some misgivings, citing rising threats against ICE agents. 'I've said it publicly before, I'm not a proponent of the masks. However, if that's a tool that the men and women of ICE to keep themselves and their family safe, then I will allow it,' he said. Lyons said some ICE agents have been 'severely doxxed,' while there has also been a sharp uptick in assaults on officers. ICE has faced significant criticism for wearing masks, as well as carrying out more operations with plainclothes officers. In Los Angeles, where ICE raids sparked widespread protests, Mayor Karen Bass (D) has condemned the practice, saying 'for the average citizen, it looks like it's a violent kidnapping.' Masked, plainclothes officers have also been conducting arrests at immigration courthouses. ICE attorneys will move to dismiss a case, a practice that most migrants interpret as the agency dropping efforts to deport them but opens the agency to then arrest them and place them in expedited removal proceedings that largely receive no court review. Lyons disputed that agents are not identifiable, saying they should be wearing clothing with some kind of ICE insignia. But he also said he wants more backing from critical lawmakers as ICE agents have faced doxxing. 'I would push back on the notion that we aren't identifying themselves. Now, what I would advocate for, and I've said this many times, is I know a lot of elected officials have put forward legislation or proposed legislation about banning of the masks, things like that. I would also want, you know, elected officials to help us hold those people accountable that do doxx or threaten an ICE officer or agent or their family,' Lyons said. 'If we had that kind of support and had those laws or regulations in place, that we can hold those folks accountable to give ICE agents and officers and other law enforcement officers the peace of mind that someone that does threaten their life or their families or doxxes them will be held accountable. I think that'd go a long way.' Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, both New York Democrats, have introduced legislation that would ban ICE agents from using masks. 'If you uphold the peace of a democratic society, you should not be anonymous. DHS and ICE agents wearing masks and hiding identification echoes the tactics of secret police authoritarian regimes – and deviates from the practices of local law enforcement, which contributes to confusion in communities,' Espaillat said in a statement at the time. 'Many immigrants come to America seeking opportunities, hope, and freedom to escape Draconian practices, and under no circumstance should they, or anyone, fear being disappeared by masked and armed individuals in unmarked vehicles. If you are upholding the law, you should not be anonymous, and our bill aims to safeguard from tyranny while upholding the values of our nation.' Lyons also confirmed that ICE has been given access to Medicaid databases, a set that includes information like addresses of the limited number of non-U.S. citizens eligible for the program in some states. 'Under the last administration, we have so many known got-aways, or individuals that came into the United States and just totally disappeared off the grid. What ICE is doing is working with all of our other federal partners to try to gain intelligence, to locate these individuals that have been ordered deported by a judge or have been released from a sanctuary jurisdiction like we talked about,' he said. 'That is what ICE is using that data for, whether it be data from the Department of Labor, data from health and service- Health and Human Services, Medicaid, we are using that data to try to locate, again, the worst of the worst, those people that have been lawfully deported. So I think that's what you're going to see that data used for.'
