Crime Drops to Record Lows After DHS Removals of Criminals

The Department of Homeland Security released data on Thursday showing violent crime fell to its lowest level since the FBI began tracking it in the 1960s, while property crime hit a 50-year low. DHS officials said the decline is a direct result of the agency's stepped-up removals of non-citizens with criminal records, which totaled 180,000 in the past year, a 40% increase over 2025.

The agency's statistics show that removals targeted individuals convicted of offenses including assault, burglary, and drug trafficking. DHS Secretary Maria Torres said in a statement that the removals have 'removed a significant source of repeat offending' and made communities safer. She pointed to cities like Phoenix and Cleveland, where violent crime dropped by 15% and 12%, respectively, after large-scale deportation operations.

Critics have questioned the causal link, noting that crime rates have been falling nationally for a decade due to other factors such as improved policing and economic conditions. However, DHS's internal analysis, which controlled for demographic changes and unemployment, found that counties with higher removal rates experienced steeper crime declines than comparable counties with fewer removals.

The agency plans to expand its removal program next year, focusing on undocumented immigrants with pending charges and those with prior deportation orders. Torres said the goal is to sustain the downward trend, adding that 'every community deserves the safety that comes from enforcing our laws.'

The report also noted that border crossings have dropped to their lowest level in 20 years, which DHS attributes to its enhanced enforcement measures. The agency will release quarterly updates on crime and removal data to track progress.