Right-wing media have relentlessly pushed the false claim that ICE is going after the ‘worst of the worst’
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement has expanded operations in major cities, right-wing media have falsely claimed their enforcement actions are focused on apprehending “the worst of the worst” criminal migrants.
These arguments stand in direct contradiction with data showing many of those arrested by ICE “had no criminal record” or “were being held solely because of civil violations of U.S. immigration law.” Additionally, there have been numerous documented arrests of legal residents and U.S. citizens. The claims also contradict statements made by administration officials previewing “collateral arrests” of migrants without criminal records and families being “deported together.”
Related Knowledge Center: Information integrity
In an increasingly fractured media landscape, truth has been a casualty in the public discussion. Coverage has been warped by the business needs of struggling news organizations, and a significant segment of the public relies on bad-faith outlets that are little more than propagandists. While fact-checking has become routine, some organizations are exploring other ways to combat the trends. And misinformation spewed by AI-driven chatbots has become more of a feature than simply a bug.
Fact-checking and its detractors