This report by @BillMelugin_ gets facts wrong and omits essential context: that millions of people on ICE's non-detained dockets have been here for decades.
By FY 2015, already 368,574 people on the docket had convictions. Many can't be deported, often for diplomatic reasons.
By FY 2015, already 368,574 people on the docket had convictions. Many can't be deported, often for diplomatic reasons.
https://twitter.com/TVNewsNow/status/1839717538164551951
In the report, Bill repeatedly refers to people on ICE's non-detained docket as "illegal immigrants."
In fact, the non-detained docket contains many people who came here with green cards and then lost their status due to a criminal conviction. Some have been here for decades.
In fact, the non-detained docket contains many people who came here with green cards and then lost their status due to a criminal conviction. Some have been here for decades.
Many of those on ICE's non-detained docket who have a final order of removal but haven't been deported yet come from countries which refuses deportations.
As of 2022, there were 40,000 post-order Cubans living in the US. Many got out of jail decades ago.
miamiherald.com/news/nation-wo…
As of 2022, there were 40,000 post-order Cubans living in the US. Many got out of jail decades ago.
miamiherald.com/news/nation-wo…
In addition, people with records may be on ICE's non-detained docket for years if they proved to a judge that they would be persecuted or tortured if deported to their home country.
These people are issued final orders of removal, but the orders are "withheld" or "deferred."
These people are issued final orders of removal, but the orders are "withheld" or "deferred."
By telling the viewer there are 425,431 people with criminal convictions on the docket, while omitting the context that the number was 368,574 in 2015, the viewer is mislead.
In nine years, that number went up 15%—while the docket as a whole went up 225%.
In nine years, that number went up 15%—while the docket as a whole went up 225%.
https://twitter.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1839791394866487734
Throughout the report, Bill also uses the phrase "roaming the country" to refer to people on ICE's non-detained docket.
That is extremely inflammatory language when we're talking a population which includes millions of people who are dutifully checking in with ICE when asked.
That is extremely inflammatory language when we're talking a population which includes millions of people who are dutifully checking in with ICE when asked.
Years ago, I had clients with criminal convictions on ICE's non-detained docket. They included a kid with a green card in his 20s who had an arrest for pot from when he was 17, and a guy with a green card who'd had a heroin problem in the 90s and had been sober for over a decade.
These people were not roaming the country. The first guy worked at Ashley Furniture and was raising a beautiful kid with his wife. The other guy was a businessman who worked hard to put his demons behind him. Both committed deportable offenses, yes, but I'm glad they got to stay.
Unfortunately, none of this nuance is present in the report above. The overwhelming message left by the report is that a horde of immigrant criminals are "roaming the country," so lock up your loved ones and stay scared.
This is why context matters.
This is why context matters.
Thanks for finally getting around to providing this crucial context. I genuinely appreciate the correction.
Unfortunately, millions of people saw the report and are drawing wildly wrong confusions about it. The damage has been done.
Unfortunately, millions of people saw the report and are drawing wildly wrong confusions about it. The damage has been done.
https://twitter.com/billmelugin_/status/1839810916373983514
Wildly wrong conclusions, not confusions. Autocorrect got me there. But it is a somewhat apropos typo.
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