
The Department of Homeland Security is fact-checking misleading media coverage that labels undocumented immigrants with violent criminal pasts as innocuous “LA men,” obscuring their dangerous histories.
At a Glance
- The Department of Homeland Security has criticized media outlets for using misleading labels like “L.A. man” to describe undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
- Vice President JD Vance has praised the efforts of law enforcement to deport criminal aliens from Los Angeles amid ongoing protests.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has announced the reopening of the VOICE office to provide support for victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
- The administration argues that a focus on the “sob stories” of criminal aliens neglects the suffering of their American victims.
- The push for accurate reporting comes as assaults against ICE agents have reportedly increased by 500%.
DHS Pushes Back on Misleading Media Labels
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a critical fact-check addressing how certain media outlets describe undocumented immigrants with violent criminal records. The practice of labelling a criminal as an “LA man” misleads the public and generates unwarranted sympathy, particularly when the individual has a history of serious offenses.
As detailed by The Western Journal, DHS criticized The Independent for misleadingly labeling Omar Pulido-Bastida, a Mexican national with an extensive criminal history, as an “LA man” when reporting on his assault of an ICE officer. Such mischaracterizations downplay the danger these individuals pose.
A Proactive Stance on Victim Support and Enforcement
Vice President JD Vance recently visited Los Angeles to thank law enforcement and immigration officials engaged in deporting criminal aliens. In his remarks, covered by The Conservative Treehouse, he criticized local leaders for their perceived complicity in the civic unrest that has gripped the city.
In response to these circumstances, DHS under Secretary Kristi Noem has taken proactive steps. She announced the reopening of the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, a commitment to supporting victims. Initially launched during the first Trump administration, the office provides critical resources and support.
Shifting the Narrative to the Victims
Secretary Noem has openly criticized open border policies that she says prioritize criminal aliens over American safety. By supporting victims, especially in high-profile cases like the murder of Rachel Morin, DHS seeks to shift the media narrative. “This criminal illegal alien should never have been in our country in the first place,” Noem stated in an official DHS press release. “We hear far too much in the mainstream media about sob stories of gang members and criminal illegals and not enough about their victims.”
Media headlines focusing on the “plight” of criminals present a distorted view that DHS argues must be corrected to reflect the genuine dangers posed by illegal entry and lax enforcement.