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Kristi Noem Defends ICE Arrest Figures, Disputes Media Reporting on Criminal Detentions
MLN — 19 JAN 2026: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that 70% of individuals detained during recent federal immigration operations have been charged with crimes or previously convicted, pushing back against lower figures cited by some media outlets. She made the remarks during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation while discussing immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
Noem said the Department of Homeland Security’s operations in Minnesota represent the largest enforcement effort in the department’s history, involving nearly 3,000 federal agents. DHS has described the campaign as focused on removing individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, including violent offenses, according to officials.
“I think every day we get a murderer off the streets of Minneapolis, the public is safer,” Noem said, crediting President Donald Trump with fulfilling campaign promises on immigration enforcement. She said DHS has detained thousands of individuals in Minnesota since Trump returned to office and argued that families benefit when dangerous offenders are removed from communities.
CBS host Margaret Brennan questioned how DHS measures the effectiveness of deportation efforts and asked for clarification on the criminal background of those detained. In response, Noem criticized the previous administration, saying millions of people entered the country without sufficient vetting, making it difficult to assess the full scope of criminal risk.
When pressed on whether all detainees had criminal records, Noem said every individual had committed an offense under immigration law and reiterated that 70% faced charges or convictions for violent or serious crimes. Brennan countered that DHS’s own data did not support that figure, according to previous reporting.
Noem disputed that claim, saying the department’s data supports her assessment and accusing media outlets of selectively interpreting statistics. She said DHS will continue enforcement operations regardless of criticism, arguing that those detained should be held accountable under U.S. law.
The exchange underscores ongoing disputes between the administration and media organizations over immigration data and enforcement priorities, as federal operations continue to expand in several major U.S. cities.
