Trending Now - Democrats Criticize ICE Focus Amid Mixed Public Views on Deportation

WHO:

Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member

Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Senator

Lauren Bis, Deputy Assistant Secretary, DHS

Gasper Florentino, illegal immigrant from Mexico, MS-13 gang member

Juan Leonardo Alvarado-Gonzalez, illegal immigrant from Guatemala

Yancarlos Marte-Morel, illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic

Minh Tai Son Tran, Vietnamese national

WHAT:

Durbin criticized DHS for detaining DACA recipients during a Senate hearing on March 3, 2026.

DHS reported that nearly 70% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE have criminal records.

ICE arrested 261 DACA recipients in the past year and deported 86 of them.

Durbin claimed that 85% of the 400,000 illegal immigrants arrested by ICE had no violent criminal record beyond immigration offenses.

DHS provided a list of dangerous illegal immigrants arrested, including individuals convicted of serious crimes.

A CBS News poll indicated that most Americans believe ICE operations should be decreased, with views sharply divided along partisan lines.

WHERE:

Washington, D.C. (Senate hearing location)

Northridge, Illinois (location of deported Mexican man)

Fairfax, Virginia (location of Gasper Florentino's conviction)

Cook County, Illinois (location of Juan Leonardo Alvarado-Gonzalez's conviction)

Massachusetts (location of Yancarlos Marte-Morel's conviction)

WHEN:

March 3, 2026 (date of the Senate hearing and DHS report)

February 25-27, 2026 (dates of CBS News/YouGov survey)

2025 (year when 261 DACA recipients were arrested)

WHY:

Durbin questioned the deportation of DACA recipients and the treatment of individuals with family health issues.

DHS defended its actions by stating it enforces laws as passed by Congress.

HOW:

DHS provided data and a list of arrested individuals to support its claims regarding public safety threats.

The CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,264 U.S. adults, weighted according to U.S. Census data. The margin of error was ±2.5 points.

During a Senate hearing today, Richard Durbin criticized the Department of Homeland Security for detaining DACA recipients, highlighting that nearly 70% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE have criminal records. In response, DHS defended its actions, stating that it enforces laws as passed by Congress and provided data showing that a significant number of those arrested pose public safety threats. A recent CBS News poll revealed that most Americans believe ICE operations should be decreased, with opinions sharply divided along partisan lines.