Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued a public challenge to the media on Friday, accusing major outlets of minimizing or ignoring serious crimes committed by individuals living in the United States illegally.
Noem pointed to multiple recent cases involving illegal immigrants accused of violent offenses and said the media’s portrayal of such individuals often omits critical facts that concern public safety.
During a press briefing, Noem highlighted the arrests of several foreign nationals, including two Venezuelan men taken into custody for promoting prostitution and evading arrest, as well as another Venezuelan national charged with homicide.
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The 35-year-old suspect was accused of stabbing his wife to death in a case that drew local law enforcement attention earlier this month.
Noem also referenced a Salvadoran national with alleged ties to the MS-13 gang.
According to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the individual was wanted in El Salvador for aggravated murder and was apprehended by federal authorities.
In another case cited by the secretary, a 22-year-old Guatemalan man living in the U.S. unlawfully was charged with child rape, exploitation of a minor, and identity theft.
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Additionally, federal officials arrested a 60-year-old Iraqi national with a criminal record that includes rape, larceny, and false imprisonment.
.@Sec_Noem forces the FAKE NEWS to take a hard look at who they are peddling sob stories for—criminal illegal alien murderers, gang members, and child rapists. pic.twitter.com/coGftoLkgu
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 18, 2025
The secretary’s comments come amid growing criticism of the way certain media organizations report on immigration-related enforcement actions.
CNN recently published a profile of Elsy Noemi Berrios, a Salvadoran mother facing deportation.
The article emphasized her role as a single parent and noted that the Department of Homeland Security had not provided public evidence of her alleged affiliation with MS-13.
The report focused on her lack of criminal history and her family’s defense of her character.
Another CNN story centered on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national previously living in Maryland who was deported to El Salvador.
The article described him as having been “wrongly deported,” focusing on legal disputes and errors rather than allegations of gang affiliation.
MSNBC also came under scrutiny after commentators, including Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, downplayed public safety concerns during discussions of Abrego Garcia’s case.
The program highlighted his clothing and absence of a criminal record, with panelists raising questions about procedural fairness rather than discussing potential risks posed by individuals linked to known criminal organizations.
Additionally, an MSNBC legal analyst published an article titled “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance,” later changed to “The guilt of Laken Riley’s killer was never in doubt.”
MSNBC caught changing its “sickening” “depraved” headline sympathizing with Laken Riley’s convicted murderer from “Laken Riley’s Killer Never Stood a Chance” to “The Guilt of Laken Riley’s Killer Was Never in Doubt” after worldwide condemnation. Laken was beaten and strangled to… pic.twitter.com/TGOl2arX2G
— Elizabeth MacDonald (@LizMacDonaldFOX) November 23, 2024
The revision came after criticism that the original title framed the convicted killer, an illegal immigrant, in a sympathetic light. Critics argued the piece appeared to prioritize discussion of courtroom procedures over the victim and her family.
