More than 250 detainees held at the controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center have no criminal charges or convictions in the United States, the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times reported Sunday.
The Herald/Times report runs contrary to what President Donald Trump said July 1 when he visited the detention center in the Everglades with administration officials and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Very soon, this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet,” Trump said.
The report comes a day after Democratic state and federal lawmakers toured the facility. They described harsh and horrific conditions for hundreds of men imprisoned into crammed cages.
READ MORE: Congressional, state lawmakers tour Alligator Alcatraz. See men in cages. Hear pleas of 'Libertad'
The Herald/Times, citing federal records, reported that only one-third of detainees listed actually have criminal convictions, ranging from attempted murder to traffic violations.
Trump administration officials dismissed the news media outlet’s reports.
“Many of the individuals that are counted as ‘non-criminals’ are actually terrorists, human rights abusers, gangsters and more; they just don’t have a rap sheet in the U.S.,” McLaughlin told the Herald/Times. “Further, every single one of these individuals committed a crime when they came into this country illegally. It is not an accurate description to say they are ‘non-criminals.’” Tricia McLauglin, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary told the Herald/Times in a statement.
Nationwide, the latest data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows the vast majority of detainees had no criminal convictions. Federal records reveal that — as of June 29 — ICE detained 57,861 people and that 41,495 — 71.7% — had no criminal convictions. That includes 14,318 people with pending criminal charges and 27,177 who are subject to immigration enforcement, but have no known criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.
Each detainee is assigned a threat level by ICE on a scale of 1 to 3, with one being the highest. Those without a criminal record are classified as having “no ICE threat level.” As of June 23, the latest data available, 84% of people detained at 201 facilities nationwide were not given a threat level. Another 7% had been graded as a level 1 threat, 4% were level 2 and 5% were level 3.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
