Republicans are pointing to newly released immigration enforcement data to bolster their argument that the Biden administration is letting migrants with serious criminal backgrounds go free in the U.S. However, the numbers have been misconstrued without key context.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency recently shared data with Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales in response to a request for information about individuals under ICE supervision who are either convicted of crimes or facing criminal charges. Gonzales, whose Texas district borders Mexico, posted the numbers online, sparking controversy during the presidential campaign between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

As of July 21, ICE reported that 662,556 individuals under its supervision had criminal convictions or pending charges. While nearly 15,000 were in ICE custody, the majority, 647,572 individuals, were not detained.

The data includes individuals convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, weapons offenses, and more. It spans decades and acknowledges that some individuals are held by state or local agencies while not in ICE custody.

Both sides have reacted strongly to the numbers, with Republicans using them to criticize the Biden administration’s immigration policies, while former President Trump accused Biden and Harris of allowing criminals into the country during their time in office.

However, Homeland Security clarified that the data goes back years and includes individuals who entered the country long before the current administration. The agency emphasized its efforts to deport those without legal status, removing over 700,000 individuals in the past year.

The data is complex and not indicative of recent policy changes but rather accumulations over several administrations. ICE faces challenges in deporting individuals due to limited resources, legal constraints, and cooperation issues with other countries.

Ultimately, the released data sheds light on the complexities of immigration enforcement and highlights the need for comprehensive solutions to address the various challenges faced by ICE in carrying out its mandate.