100+ unqualified immigrants were hired as corrections officers in Washington jails, whistleblower claims



An anonymous whistleblower claimed that a Washington corrections department illegally hired unqualified immigrants as corrections officers.

According to Fox News Digital, the individual wrote to the Criminal Justice Training Commission in August, stating that the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention violated a state statute that requires all peace officers and corrections officers to be United States citizens, lawful permanent residents, or recipients of deferred action for childhood arrivals.

"It has come to my attention, that, over the past several years, the King County DAJD has knowingly hired individuals as corrections officers who do not meet these legal requirements," the letter to the commission read.

The whistleblower claimed that in some instances, individuals with temporary work visas or expired work authorization were hired to guard detention centers.

"This practice not only undermines the integrity of Washington's criminal justice system but also presents significant legal and security concerns," the whistleblower remarked, urging the commission to investigate the claims promptly.

The number of unqualified hires could exceed 100, according to the whistleblower, SeattleRed's "The Jason Rantz Show" first reported.

RELATED: How many immigrants have actually left the country?

Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

“The scale of this problem cannot be overstated. It is estimated that well over 100 corrections officers currently employed by DAJD may fall into this questionable status,” the whistleblower reportedly stated. “Some estimates place the number closer to 130 officers."

"If the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) revokes their certifications, these individuals would be unable to continue serving as corrections officers," the statement continued. "The loss of this many staff would place the County’s jail system on the brink of collapse, with the very real possibility of forcing the closure of a jail due to unsafe staffing levels.”

RELATED: The fraud crippling American trucking: 'Ghost' carriers and 'NO NAME GIVEN' driver's licenses issued to foreigners

Photo by Linda Davidson/Washington Post/Getty Images

The WSCJTC “provides training and certification after agencies hire and verify that individuals meet all employment and eligibility requirements under state law,” the commission told Blaze News, noting that employers are responsible for determining employment eligibility.

“WSCJTC is conducting an open investigation into King County’s hiring practices for individuals who do not meet state eligibility requirements. WSCJTC will initiate a decertification case against any individual who is not qualified for certification under state law,” the commission continued. “WSCJTC immediately expelled four King County corrections academy recruits after King County confirmed they did not meet eligibility requirements.”

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ICE nabs alleged illegal alien truck driver with ‘NO NAME GIVEN’ license



Immigration and Customs Enforcement claims to have arrested an illegal alien truck driver who was issued a commercial driver’s license by New York State, reading, “NO NAME GIVEN.”

'Allowing illegal aliens to obtain commercial driver’s licenses to operate 18-wheelers and transport hazardous materials on America’s roads is reckless and incredibly dangerous to public safety.'

In September, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) shared a photo of a New York State CDL belonging to “NO NAME GIVEN,” whom he described as an illegal immigrant. Much of the identifying information on the Real ID was redacted.

Stitt indicated that the individual was apprehended as part of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s enforcement actions, adding that troopers had captured 125 illegal immigrants.

ICE announced Friday that it had arrested Anmol Anmol, an alleged illegal alien from India who had been issued a CDL by New York State.

A photo of the license reads, “Anmol NO NAME GIVEN.”

The CDL appeared to match the one previously posted by Stitt, as both displayed the same issue and expiration date. Blaze News contacted ICE to determine whether the license previously shared by Stitt belonged to Anmol.

A search of the online ICE database confirmed that as of Monday afternoon, an individual named Anmol Anmol from India is being held at an ICE detention facility in Oklahoma.

RELATED: The fraud crippling American trucking: 'Ghost' carriers and 'NO NAME GIVEN' driver's licenses issued to foreigners

Image source: Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE stated that OHP encountered Anmol during a routine inspection at a weigh station on I-40.

Anmol reportedly unlawfully entered the country in 2023, amid the Biden administration’s open-border crisis. He was arrested as part of a three-day enforcement operation partnership with OHP and placed in removal proceedings.

“Allowing illegal aliens to obtain commercial driver’s licenses to operate 18-wheelers and transport hazardous materials on America’s roads is reckless and incredibly dangerous to public safety. Thanks to the successful 287(g) partnership of ICE and Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Anmol Anmol is no longer posing a threat to drivers,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated.

RELATED: American trucking at a crossroads: Deadly crash involving illegal alien exposes true cost of Biden’s border invasion

Image source: Immigration and Customs Enforcement

“New York is not only failing to check if applicants applying to drive 18-wheelers are U.S. citizens but even failing to obtain the full legal names of individuals they are issuing commercial driver’s licenses to,” McLaughlin continued. “DHS is working with our state and local partners to get illegal alien truck drivers who often don’t know basic traffic laws off our highways.”

— (@)

“To see that on a driver’s license issued by a state, ‘No name given,’ and the worst part, there’s a Real ID star right up there in the corner,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons stated during an interview with Fox News.

“You have these sanctuary states that want to go ahead and try to just make it welcoming for these people that we don’t even know who they are,” Lyons continued.

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles told Blaze News last week that the license in Stitt’s social media post “was issued in accordance with all proper procedures, including verification of the individual’s identity through federally issued documentation.”

“The individual has lawful status in the United States through a federal employment authorization and was issued a license consistent with federal guidelines,” the DMV’s statement continued. “This document was not issued under the Green Light Law. It is not uncommon for individuals from other countries to have only one name. Procedures for that are clearly spelled out in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual, and it is important to note that federal documents also include a ‘no name given’ notation.”

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Exclusive: ICE steps in after illegal alien who killed college student gets 1 year in prison



Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer against an illegal alien who killed a college student in a hit-and-run accident and received a light prison sentence, Blaze News has exclusively learned.

'This monster should never have been in our country and has had a final order of removal since 2018.'

On April 2, Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, a 24-year-old illegal alien from El Salvador, was driving his pickup truck when he struck and killed Nathaniel Baker, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina student, who was riding his motorcycle in Richland County, South Carolina.

Fernandez-Cruz, who illegally entered the U.S. through the Mexico border in December 2016, fled the scene of the crash without attempting to administer aid.

Three of the four charges against Fernandez-Cruz were ultimately dropped, including failure to render aid, failure to yield right of way, and driving without a license.

He pleaded guilty to hit-and-run resulting in death and was sentenced to just one year in prison. He was also given credit for 131 days of time served.

Fernandez-Cruz's scheduled release is set for March 2026.

RELATED: Inside the Portland ICE facility under siege by Antifa extremists

Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

A Department of Homeland Security press release revealed that ICE has lodged a detainer against Fernandez-Cruz to ensure that he is deported following the completion of his prison sentence.

An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2018.

RELATED: Chicago mayor creates 'ICE-free zones' meant to impede federal agents — White House fires off brutal response

Nathaniel Baker. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

"21-year-old USC student Nathaniel 'Nate' Baker was driving a motorcycle when he was hit by a truck driver who fled the scene," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated. "The hit-and-run driver, Rosali Isaac Fernandez-Cruz, was in our country illegally and received just one year in prison for taking Nate's precious life. ICE lodged a detainer to ensure as soon as this killer completes his one-year prison sentence that ICE is notified to arrest him and get him OUT of our country."

"Nathaniel was a 21-year-old college student with his whole life in front of him. This monster should never have been in our country and has had a final order of removal since 2018," McLaughlin added.

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Exclusive: ICE nabs child predator, rapist, and other violent thugs



Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested several violent criminals on Thursday, according to a Department of Homeland Security press release obtained exclusively by Blaze News.

'Nothing will deter us from our mission to make America safe again.'

Despite the ongoing government shutdown, ICE has vowed to continue working “around the clock to arrest and remove” illegal alien criminals.

“Nothing will deter us, not even a Democrat government shutdown, from fulfilling the president’s mandate from the American people to remove the worst of the worst,” the release reads.

Those arrested included child sex predators, rapists, and domestic abusers. The DHS highlighted five of the "worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens removed from American streets across the country.

Hector Patricio Quinchi-Saldana, a 42-year-old Ecuadoran, was picked up by ICE Buffalo. Quinchi-Saldana was previously convicted of rape in Queens, New York.

RELATED: ICE operation uncovers fraud in half of immigration cases

Hector Patricio Quinchi-Saldana. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

ICE Houston arrested Yoni Garado-Cobix, a 42-year-old Mexican national. His criminal history includes a conviction in Texas for assault of a family or household member, impeding breath or circulation.

Yoni Garado-Cobix. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Zeisly Jose Samaniego-Landaeta, a 37-year-old Venezuelan national, was nabbed by ICE Salt Lake City. He was previously convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Zeisly Jose Samaniego-Landaeta. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Mouncef Lahoura, a 25-year-old Moroccan national, was convicted of oral copulation: use of force/injury before ICE Los Angeles arrested him.

Mouncef Lahoura. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

ICE San Francisco captured Luis Robles-Minjares, a 45-year-old Mexican national. Robles-Minjares’ criminal history includes a conviction for sexual assault of a child younger than 10 years old.

RELATED: 'War from within': ICE agents descend from helicopters to nab suspected TDA gangsters in Chicago apartment

Luis Robles-Minjares. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

“Every day — even when the government is shut down — our brave ICE law enforcement officers are risking their lives to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens including pedophiles, rapists, and domestic abusers,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated. “Nothing will deter us from our mission to make America safe again. While the Democrats play politics, the deportation flights will continue.”

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Digital ID mandate FORCED on UK citizens is a warning to America



British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the U.K. will force all workers to have a digital ID, which he claimed is a tool to help crack down on out-of-control immigration. But Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck is well aware that’s not the real purpose of the digital ID — and that Americans need to watch out for this kind of government response to similar issues.

“This government will make a new, free-of-charge digital ID mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament. Let me spell that out. You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID,” Starmer said, addressing U.K. citizens.

“It’s as simple as that. Because decent, pragmatic, fair-minded people, they want us to tackle the issues that they see around them. And, of course, the truth is we won’t solve our problems if we don’t also take on the root causes,” he continued.


“Looking upstream to tackle poverty, conflict, climate change, issues that aren’t just intolerable for those of us who care about inequality and injustice where it’s found in the world, but which have clear consequences for our own citizens,” he added.

Glenn sees right through Starmer's attempt to explain the dystopian system away.

“They have a problem in England with people coming across the water and just invading the country. And then they’re taking all the jobs from, you know, decent Brits. And they haven’t stopped them, you know, they’re welcoming them in. They’re not turning them away. They’re not sending them back home or anything,” he says.

Instead of turning immigrants away or sending them back to solve the problem of illegal immigration, they’re implementing the digital ID.

“This is the way progressivism works. They create the idea and then they cause the problem so that they can go back and say, ‘We need to do this to solve this problem.’ OK? So they’ve caused the problem of illegal immigration. They’ve caused the problem of all of these things happening on their streets. But don’t worry, they’ve already designed the answer and it’s a digital ID,” Glenn says.

And what’s more worrisome, Glenn explains, is that the digital ID will “have complete control and oversight of your entire life.”

“They want digital ID to control the population. That’s what all of this is about. Control your every movement, your every thought, your every word. Control it, regulate it, and make sure that you’re kept in line,” he adds.

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Exclusive: DHS disputes ‘false’ narrative from legacy media — ‘ICE does NOT arrest or deport US citizens’



A New York Times report published on Monday claimed that at least 15 American citizens have been “arrested or detained and questioned” by law enforcement officials as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The Department of Homeland Security rejected the Times’ accusations in a press release obtained exclusively by Blaze News.

The Times claimed that the DHS has “roamed the streets, courthouses and workplaces demanding proof of citizenship from residents,” particularly in Southern California communities.

'Any US citizens arrested are because of obstructing or assaulting law enforcement.'

The DHS rejected the Times’ accusation, emphasizing that its operations are “highly targeted” and do not result in the arrest of U.S. citizens.

“We do our due diligence,” the department explained. “We know who we are targeting ahead of time. If and when we do encounter individuals subject to arrest, our law enforcement is trained to ask a series of well-determined questions to determine status and removability. ICE does not arrest or detain U.S. citizens.”

The Times further reported that Americans had been detained overnight in immigration facilities without access to a lawyer or a phone call.

The DHS stated this was not true, noting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers have higher standards "than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.”

RELATED: Pam Bondi issues zero-tolerance order on violence against federal officers

Photo by BENJAMIN HANSON/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

“Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false,” the DHS said.

“All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members,” the DHS continued.

The Times highlighted several cases, including those involving Kenny Laynez-Ambrosio, Jason Brian Gavidia, Javier Ramirez, George Retes, and Leonardo Garcia Venegas. The outlet reported that all the individuals were American citizens who were unjustly targeted by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.

According to the news outlet, Laynez-Ambrosio, 18, was riding in his employer’s truck with his co-workers in May when the Florida Highway Patrol pulled them over. After Laynez-Ambrosio and the other vehicle occupants refused to exit the vehicle, troopers forcibly removed them, the Times reported. Laynez-Ambrosio was allegedly held at a nearby Border Patrol facility for roughly six hours, despite repeatedly telling officials he was a U.S. citizen.

The DHS argued that Laynez-Ambrosio, who was in the vehicle with “several adult male illegal aliens from Guatemala,” resisted arrest during the traffic stop. Border Patrol agents, who were responding to a request for assistance from the FHP, arrested the illegal aliens.

Law enforcement officials detained Gavidia, 29, and Ramirez, 32, after conducting an operation at their place of business in East Los Angeles in June. The Times claimed that both were American citizens who were improperly targeted.

“Gavidia was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer and interfering with agents performing their duties,” the DHS stated. “Javier Ramirez was detained on the street for investigation for interference and released after being confirmed to be a U.S. citizen with no outstanding warrants.”

RELATED: Pot farm raid update: Trump's DHS found convicted rapists and kidnappers working near migrant kids

Glass House Farms protest. Photo by BLAKE FAGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Times reported that law enforcement agents unjustly detained Retes, a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, in July. During the detainment, officers allegedly broke his windshield and pepper-sprayed him after mistakenly identifying him as an unruly protester. Retes was on his way to work as a security guard for Glass House Farms, a marijuana farm in California. At the time of the incident, the farm was the site of a federal law enforcement operation, which sparked an anti-ICE demonstration.

The DHS claimed that Retes “became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement” while they were executing criminal search warrants at the farm.

“He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle out of the road. CBP arrested Retes for assault,” the department said.

The Times reported that authorities wrongfully targeted Venegas while he was working at a construction site. He began recording the officers after witnessing them push his brother, who is an illegal immigrant, to the ground, according to the news outlet. An officer allegedly tackled Venegas and kept him handcuffed for hours.

“During a targeted worksite operation, Garcia Venegas attempted to obstruct and prevent the lawful arrest of an illegal alien,” the DHS wrote. “He physically got in between agents and the subject they were attempting to arrest and refused to comply with numerous verbal commands. Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties, including U.S. citizens, will of course face consequences which include arrest.”

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “We have said it a million times: ICE does NOT arrest or deport U.S. citizens. Not even a week after the terrorist attack targeting ICE in Dallas, the media is once again shamefully peddling a false narrative, attempting to demonize our DHS law enforcement agents, who are already facing a 1,000% increase in assaults against them.”

“Any U.S. citizens arrested are because of obstructing or assaulting law enforcement,” McLaughlin declared.

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FACT-CHECK: Yes, US taxpayers fund health care for illegal aliens



Democrat lawmakers have rejected Republican attempts to keep the government open amid a looming shutdown, demanding an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller slammed Democrats for refusing to support a "clean, routine government funding bill because it doesn't give free healthcare to illegals."

'The approximately $66.4 billion in federal expenditures attributable to illegal aliens is staggering, and constitutes an increase of 45 percent since 2017.'

Neera Tanden, the former domestic policy adviser under the Biden administration, accused Miller of pushing a "total and complete fabrication."

"This is a lie. It is a violation of law for the ACA premium tax credits to go to illegal aliens," Tanden wrote in a post on X.

ACA's eligibility standards require an individual to be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present noncitizen, which can include asylum-seekers, refugees, and those granted employment authorization. The Biden administration relaxed criteria for various categories of immigration status, allowing more foreign nationals who were previously considered unlawfully present to qualify for status that may be eligible for ACA tax credits.

Additionally, multiple studies have uncovered that federal tax dollars do reach illegal aliens through the health care system.

RELATED: Democratic governor hands tax dollars to illegal aliens for college tuition while state drowns in debt

Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Congressional Budget Office found in October 2024 that the Biden administration had cost state and federal taxpayers $16.2 billion to cover Medicaid emergency services for illegal aliens since taking office.

Paul Winfree, president and CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Center, told Fox News Digital in March that California has been "exploiting an existing loophole within law" to use billions of dollars in reimbursements from the federal government to provide illegal immigrants with Medicaid.

"Medicaid spending is supposed to be jointly financed by the federal government and states. However, states are increasingly designing Medicaid money-laundering schemes that result in massive federal expenditures without any state financial obligation," an EPIC report claimed. "The state of California, colluding with insurance companies who cover Medicaid beneficiaries, has created one of the most outrageous ones yet, a money-laundering scheme that results in California obtaining more than $19 billion in federal money without any state contribution over the period from April 2023 through December 2026."

California's Department of Healthcare Services claimed EPIC’s report was “misleading.”

RELATED: Did your state just sue the Trump administration to keep benefits flowing to illegal aliens? Here's the list.

Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A 2023 study from the Federation for American Immigration Reform found $66.4 billion in federal expenditures on illegal aliens, including $23.1 billion in medical spending.

"The approximately $66.4 billion in federal expenditures attributable to illegal aliens is staggering and constitutes an increase of 45 percent since 2017. This amounts to roughly $3,187 per illegal alien, per year," FAIR reported.

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Trump promises a ‘sacred bond’ of citizenship, but reality says otherwise



Earlier this month, President Donald Trump released a letter to be given to new citizens upon their naturalization. The message was lofty and inspiring: “America has always welcomed those who embrace our values, assimilate into our society, and pledge allegiance to our country. By taking this oath, you have forged a sacred bond with our Nation, her traditions, her history, her culture, and her values.”

The letter should be applauded for setting an aspirational standard for what citizenship should mean. But it is not an accurate reflection of today’s reality. The United States faces a deep assimilation crisis.

Tougher tests, stricter reviews, and heightened scrutiny must replace the laughably weak process we have today.

To its credit, the Trump administration — through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow — has tried to address the problem by revamping the path to naturalization. The changes include restoring a more rigorous version of the citizenship test. Today, the English portion can be passed simply by writing one memorized sentence, such as: “The president lives in the White House.”

Other reforms include social media screening and neighborhood checks to determine whether applicants are civic-minded, engage in anti-American behavior, or have a history of trouble with the law. These commonsense steps move naturalization closer to what it should be: a process that ensures new citizens merit the honor of joining the American republic.

Numbers that tell the story

America’s foreign-born population has topped 50 million, driven by mass immigration policies that have prioritized large inflows from countries with steep barriers to assimilation, including Mexico, India, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam. Legal immigration at this scale has created far more strain on assimilation than even the inflow of illegal aliens.

One of the clearest measures is English proficiency. According to Pew Research, only about half of immigrants ages 5 and older speak English well. Rates vary widely by country of origin; among Central American immigrants, only one in three is proficient.

Worse, proficiency has declined over time. Immigrants who arrived before 2000 had about a 10-point advantage over those who arrived later. Census data shows that 22% of Americans older than 5 speak a language other than English at home — and a third of them admit they speak English “less than very well.”

Split allegiances compound the problem. A 2012 Pew Research poll found that only 21% of Hispanics primarily identified as “American.” Meanwhile, naturalized U.S. citizens from Mexico can still vote in Mexican elections, an arrangement that blurs civic loyalty.

The money tells a similar story. The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates that $200 billion leaves the United States annually in remittances to immigrants’ home countries, including Mexico, India, Guatemala, the Philippines, and China. These untaxed transfers amount to a substantial portion of the GDP of many Central American nations — and a permanent drain on American wealth.

Cultural decay in plain sight

The cultural effects of weak assimilation are obvious. Earlier this summer, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) told a foreign audience, in Spanish: “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American.”

She is not alone. Last year, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) declared in Somali: “We are an organized society, brothers and sisters, people of the same blood, people who know they are Somalis first, Muslims second.”

A Gallup poll from June reflects the larger trend: 92% of Republicans say they are extremely or very proud to be American, compared to just 36% of Democrats. As Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies recently observed, much of the blame lies with America itself. When national culture, language, and tradition are purposely eroded, what is left for newcomers to assimilate into?

RELATED: Patriotic assimilation is the cure for America’s identity crisis

Photo by SimpleImages via Getty Images

Acknowledge the problem

The assimilation crisis has no quick fix. With more than 800,000 people naturalized last year, the math guarantees that tens of thousands of new citizens each year will have only weak attachment to American identity. Unless naturalization standards change, the problem will compound.

Short of drastically reducing legal immigration, the least America can do is raise the bar. Clearer tests, more rigorous reviews, and tighter scrutiny must replace today’s lax process.

But first comes honesty. President Trump’s letter should be read for what it is — not a reflection of our current affairs, but a call to restore the meaning of citizenship. It points toward the America we ought to be.

How many immigrants have actually left the country?



About a month ago, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference to announce that about “1.6 million illegal immigrants have left the United States population.”

That’s a fraction of the number of people who arrived in the years that the Biden administration essentially opened the border. But it’s a lot of people, and it engendered much eye-rolling among journalists who compared Noem’s claim to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s declaration that President Trump’s drug interdiction policies had saved 258 million lives, roughly 75% of the U.S. total population.

The foreign-born population in the US declined from 53.3 million at the beginning of the year to 51.9 million by the end of June — a decline of 1.4 million in just six months.

However, in the weeks since Noem’s announcement, several data points have since emerged that suggest her estimate may be reasonably accurate. It might even be too low.

Numbers don’t lie

In August, the Pew Research Center estimated that the U.S. foreign-born population dropped from 53.3 million at the beginning of the year to 51.9 million by the end of June — a decline of 1.4 million in just six months. The Pew report noted that the January count of 53.3 million was “the largest number ever recorded” and that the decline this year will be the first decline in the immigrant population since the 1960s.

About the same time, the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that the foreign-born population fell by 2.2 million in the first seven months of the year. The center estimates that 1.6 million of those who left were in the country illegally. If this estimate is correct, it would indicate that about 600,000 immigrants left, despite having the option legally to stay.

The center’s report indicates that it relied in part on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks the number of foreign-born workers. The bureau’s data shows that the number of foreign-born workers peaked in March at 32.2 million, before falling to 30.8 million by August — a decline of 1.4 million. Even so, the level remains historically high, and numbers appeared to stabilize in late summer.

Last week, the Congressional Budget Office updated its demographic projections, based on changes in immigration patterns and enforcement since the beginning of the year. It lowered its projection for the population in 2055 from 372 million to 367 million. The current population is about 350 million, so their projection suggests that the U.S. will add only 17 million new residents over the next 30 years. That will be the slowest population growth in the country’s history.

RELATED: American jobs first: Hefty new H-1B visa fee will likely curb legal immigration, especially from India

Photo by filo via Getty Images

The Congressional Budget Office also projects that natural population growth (births minus deaths) will turn negative in 2031. At that point, any population growth will be almost entirely dependent on incoming immigrants. (Longer life spans play a minor role in such projections.) The office’s numbers still assume growth from immigration this year and in subsequent years. That certainly seems unlikely, at least for this year, given all the preliminary data showing that many immigrants have already left the country.

If the U.S. population declines this year, it will be only the second time in the nation’s history. The only other time was in 2021, at the height of the COVID pandemic.

Uncharted territory

There will be those who decry a lower population trajectory as a calamity and others who celebrate it as a blessing. But the truth is that we are in uncharted territory. Classical economic theory holds that the change in economic activity is the sum of the changes in population and productivity, implying that a population decline will lead to economic contraction.

However, many argue that there are conditions today that distort the classical theory. These include the negative impacts of a dysfunctional immigration system, declines in the proclivity of immigrants to assimilate, and a potential massive increase in productivity driven by technology, especially AI.

In other words, all these opinions about the advantages or disadvantages of slower population growth, or perhaps even a population that is declining, are nothing but speculation at this point. For 250 years, companies, institutions, governments, policymakers, and investors have been basing decisions on the assumption that our population will continue to grow each year. At a minimum, this new trajectory will require a major reset of those long-standing assumptions.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.

Exclusive: ICE arrests ‘worst of the worst’ criminal illegal aliens amid 1,000% increase in assaults on agents



Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested several illegal aliens on Monday who were previously convicted of “violent and heinous” crimes, according to a press release exclusively obtained by Blaze News.

'Despite vile rhetoric about our ICE law enforcement officers, they continue to risk their lives every single day to arrest murderers, pedophiles, drug traffickers, and other violent criminals.'

The Department of Homeland Security highlighted the arrest of five illegal immigrants: Gustavo Guzman-Galindo, Jose Rolando Aguirre-Garcia, Raul Castaneda-Parada, Luis Gilberto Rodriguez-Villalobos, and Jason Nathaniel Lewis.

Gustavo Guzman-Galindo. Image source: The Department of Homeland Security

Guzman-Galindo, an illegal alien from Mexico, was previously convicted of “criminal contempt, use of a child less than 17 years of age in a sexual performance, criminal sex act, and rape” in New York City, the DHS reported.

The 41-year-old was previously sentenced to seven years in prison, according to ICE.

Jose Rolando Aguirre-Garcia. Image source: The Department of Homeland Security

Aguirre-Garcia, also a Mexican national illegally in the U.S., was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Bexar County, Texas. ICE Houston arrested the 44-year-old on Monday, and he was previously sentenced to five years in prison.

RELATED: Exclusive: ICE rounds up violent criminal illegal aliens, including a convicted rapist

Raul Castaneda-Parada. Image source: The Department of Homeland Security

Castaneda-Parada, a third Mexican national illegally in the U.S, had a rap sheet in Durham County, North Carolina, for trafficking cocaine.

Luis Gilberto Rodriguez-Villalobos. Image source: The Department of Homeland Security

RELATED: 'I don't give a s**t what people think about me': Homan outlines Trump admin's immigration enforcement wins

Rodriguez-Villalobos, an illegal alien from El Salvador, was convicted of second-degree rape in Hempstead, New York.

Jason Nathaniel Lewis. Image source: The Department of Homeland Security

Lewis, a Jamaican national illegally in the U.S., was convicted of murder in Bronx, New York. ICE Buffalo nabbed the 49-year-old on Monday, according to the agency. He was previously sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

“Despite vile rhetoric about our ICE law enforcement officers, they continue to risk their lives every single day to arrest murderers, pedophiles, drug traffickers, and other violent criminals,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Our ICE officers are facing a more than 1,000% increase in assaults against them as they carry out operations to remove criminal illegal aliens from American neighborhoods. Our brave law enforcement will not be deterred from enforcing the law and getting heinous criminals out of our country.”

“ICE will continue to enforce U.S. immigration laws to ensure criminal illegal aliens are identified, arrested, and removed, safeguarding communities across the nation,” the DHS press release read.

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