ICE is now placing detainers on any illegal immigrant who commits any crime, regardless of severity. Acting Director Todd Lyons says this policy shift is aimed at stopping crime sprees before they escalate.
Key Facts:
- Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said “any crime” is now grounds for a detainer on illegal immigrants.
- Lyons emphasized that shoplifting and even graffiti are now considered actionable offenses for ICE.
- Under the Trump administration, New York City honored over 6,000 ICE detainers; under Biden, the number rose to over 9,000.
- Lyons said the Trump team is now placing detainers on all criminal illegal aliens, not just those with aggravated felonies.
- ICE now aims to stop illegal immigrants “before they can escalate their crime spree.”
The Rest of The Story:
In an interview on Fox News’ “Will Cain Show,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons explained that under the Trump administration, ICE is aggressively pursuing illegal immigrants who commit any kind of crime.
“Any crime now is fully on the table,” Lyons said.
“We’re focused on getting these criminal illegal aliens before they can escalate their crime spree.”
Lyons spoke with guest host Lawrence Jones, who compared detainer compliance under Biden and Trump.
While New York City honored around 6,000 ICE detainers under Trump’s first term, they complied with over 9,000 under Biden—a 400% increase.
Lyons attributed the rise to a broader approach that targets more offenses.
Lyons explained that the previous administration ignored many misdemeanor crimes, even when offenders had significant criminal records, both domestically and in their home countries.
That’s changing. ICE is now issuing detainers for any crime, no matter how small.
He pointed out how seemingly minor offenses like shoplifting can lead to larger patterns of crime.
“Shoplifting might be one thing, but it leads to more and more crime,” he said. “We just can’t do that.”
According to Lyons, ICE is now focused on stopping illegal immigrants before they pose larger threats to public safety.
The policy shift reflects a broader strategy to prevent repeat offenses and criminal escalation by acting sooner.
Business owners: You know you’re not supposed to hire illegal aliens.
• We’re enforcing the law across the board — all businesses in all industries.
• It’s time to get right with the law: https://t.co/WeqBpjn0Az pic.twitter.com/m2e6KJ4YVQ
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) July 25, 2025
Commentary:
This is the type of proactive enforcement America desperately needs. For too long, illegal aliens have slipped through the cracks after committing so-called “minor” offenses.
But a nation of laws cannot function when entire categories of crimes are simply ignored because the offender isn’t a citizen.
The message from ICE under this administration is finally the right one: if you’re here illegally and you break our laws—any of them—you’re going to be held accountable.
Why should an illegal alien get a pass for crimes that law-abiding citizens would be punished for?
Shoplifting, graffiti, petty theft—these are not harmless acts. They degrade our communities and embolden those who commit them.
Allowing illegal immigrants to repeatedly offend without consequence invites further lawlessness. This is how neighborhoods spiral into chaos.
Let’s not forget: entering the country illegally is already a crime. That alone should be grounds for deportation.
If someone breaks our laws just to get here, and then continues breaking them while they’re here, what more evidence do we need that they don’t belong in this country?
This new ICE policy takes the gloves off. It restores the principle that no one is above the law—not even those who weren’t supposed to be here in the first place.
It also shows that Trump’s leadership is willing to do what others won’t: prioritize the safety of Americans over the comfort of illegal immigrants.
Too many lives have been lost, too many communities harmed, because authorities looked the other way. It’s time for zero tolerance.
Every illegal immigrant who commits a crime should be deported, full stop. Anything less is an insult to the rule of law.
And if sanctuary cities don’t like it, tough. They’ve had their chance to self-govern responsibly. They failed.
Now it’s time for federal immigration law to be enforced—everywhere.
The Bottom Line:
ICE is now targeting illegal immigrants for all criminal activity, not just major offenses.
The goal is to act early and stop potential crime sprees.
This shift marks a return to real enforcement under Trump, sending a clear signal: commit a crime while in the U.S. illegally, and you’ll be detained and removed.
No exceptions.
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