The Department of Homeland Security has called out major media outlets for misleadingly labeling illegal immigrants with violent criminal histories as residents. The DHS criticism extends to similar cases where illegal immigrants are portrayed as “Maryland man” or “Georgia man,” effectively downplaying their immigration status. Why does mainstream media advocate for criminals to be released into your community?
DHS Challenges Media Labeling Practices
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a pointed fact check challenging how media outlets characterize illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds. DHS specifically criticized The Independent for referring to Omar Pulido-Bastida, a Mexican illegal alien charged with spitting on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, as simply an “LA man.”
According to DHS, Pulido-Bastida has an extensive criminal history, including previous deportation and illegal re-entry into the United States. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that such misleading labels consistently mischaracterize illegal aliens in ways that potentially garner unwarranted public sympathy.
Ever Manuel Bonilla-Moran is a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador and known associate of MS-13. We arrested him June 20 with help from the Florida Highway Patrol and FBI in Orlando, Fla., after he barricaded himself into a residence.
As promised, we have more details to… pic.twitter.com/9Y0yGO3bGV
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 21, 2025
Vice President Vance Reinforces Deportation Efforts
Vice President JD Vance recently visited Los Angeles to thank local police, immigration enforcement officials, federal officers, and U.S. military personnel involved in deporting criminal aliens from the region. During his visit, Vance directly criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing them of complicity in recent violence through their policies and rhetoric.
Vance claimed that Bass and Newsom’s encouragement of protests contributed to civic unrest in the area. The Vice President’s visit underscores the administration’s commitment to immigration enforcement as a central policy priority.
This “Bellevue man” is a known Tren de Aragua terrorist who violently attacked federal law enforcement.
During the attack, the illegal alien threw an ICE agent to the ground, slammed her head into the pavement, ripped off her body armor, and made repeated and physical violent… pic.twitter.com/7dJ7wUAidD
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 21, 2025
Renewed Support for Victims of Illegal Alien Crimes
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office to provide resources and support services to those affected by crimes committed by illegal aliens. The office, originally launched in 2017 under the Trump administration and subsequently closed during the Biden years, offers a dedicated helpline (1-855-48-VOICE) for victims seeking assistance.
Secretary Noem highlighted a recent case where a Maryland jury found an illegal alien from El Salvador guilty of murdering Rachel Morin. “This criminal illegal alien should have never been in our country in the first place,” Noem stated, adding that “Rachel should still be here watching her five children grow up,” and criticizing “open border policies that prioritized illegal aliens over the safety of American citizens.”
The DHS has emphasized that accurate reporting on illegal alien crime is essential for proper public understanding of immigration enforcement issues. With illegal immigration continuing as a cornerstone issue for the Trump administration, the focus on accurately identifying and addressing criminal aliens has become increasingly prominent in government communications.