WASHINGTON — A group of a half dozen House Republicans wrote this to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling on it to focus its deportation efforts on those in the country illegally with criminal records rather than dedicating resources to immigrants not charged with crimes.

What You Need To Know

  • A group of a half dozen House Republicans wrote this to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling on it to focus its deportation efforts on those in the country illegally with criminal records rather than dedicating resources to immigrants not charged with crime
  • In a letter sent to the acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, and spearheaded by the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, this week, the six lawmakers argued that while they agree all those in the country illegally are subject to U.S. laws, there needs to be “levels of priority” in how enforcement actions are carried out
  • Along with Gonzales, those who signed onto the letter include Reps. Monica De La Cruz of Texas, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, David Valadao of California, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida and Gabe Evans of Colorado
  • The letter comes as ramped-up ICE enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area led to major protests this week

  • The White House and administration officials have pledged amid the feud to continue its immigration operations in California and elsewhere

In a letter sent to the acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, and spearheaded by the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, this week, the six lawmakers argued that while they agree all those in the country illegally are subject to U.S. laws, there needs to be “levels of priority” in how enforcement actions are carried out. 

“We strongly agree that convicted criminal aliens—smugglers, murderers, and sex offenders—pose an immediate threat to our homeland security, and we are committed to making sure you have the resources to find, prosecute, and deport them as soon as possible,” the group wrote. “That said, we are also concerned that your limited resources may be stretched to pursue individuals that do not constitute an immediate threat to public safety.”

The House Republicans, who are all members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, went on to make the case that putting resources toward those in the country illegally but without criminal backgrounds puts the nation’s security at risk. 

“Every minute that we spend pursuing an individual with a clean record is a minute less that we dedicate to apprehending terrorists or cartel operatives,” the Republicans wrote. 

Along with Gonzales, those who signed onto the letter include Reps. Monica De La Cruz of Texas, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, David Valadao of California, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida and Gabe Evans of Colorado. 

The group also asked ICE to provide updated data and information on its immigration enforcement efforts by the end of the month, including how many of the 100,000 people it says have been deported since the start of this year are convicted criminals. The lawmakers noted ICE told Gonzales last year that 600,000 people with criminal charges were on its docket.  

The letter comes as ramped-up ICE enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area led to major protests this week. The developments sparked a major feud between state and local leaders and Trump, who ordered the deployment of the National Guard and U.S. Marines to California against the governor’s wishes to help with its immigration enforcement actions. 

Valadao, who represents a heavily Latino district in California's Central Valley, about two hours outside of Los Angeles, took to X earlier this week to denounce any violence as it relates to the protests while also making clear he has concerns about recent ICE operations in the state. 

He added that he would continue to urge the Trump administration “to prioritize the removal of known criminals over the hardworking people who have lived peacefully in the Valley for years.”

The White House and administration officials have pledged amid the feud to continue their immigration operations in California and elsewhere in the country. White House border czar Tom Homan told Semafor this week that immigration enforcement actions at workplaces will “massively expand.” 

Trump on Truth Social on Thursday referenced concerns he said have been expressed by those in the agriculture and hotel and leisure industries about the administration’s immigration actions taking workers away. The president asserted that many applying for the jobs are criminals while also pledging to bring change. He did not provide further details. 

“We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA,” Trump wrote. “Changes are coming!”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that 330 people in the country illegally had been arrested in Los Angeles since June 6, with 113 — less than half — having prior criminal convictions.