How the Federal Government Is Painting Immigrants as Criminals on Social Media

7 hours ago

The White House incorrectly labeled At Chandee as 'WORST OF WORST' and a 'CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIEN' on social media, using the wrong photo and misstating his criminal record.
Chandee, a refugee from Laos, has lived in the U.S. for decades without further criminal incidents after serving time for a 1993 assault. He worked for Minneapolis for 26 years and has a son in the military.
Federal agencies like DHS and ICE have been using social media to portray detained immigrants as violent criminals, despite over 70% having no criminal records according to ICE data.
NPR's research found that about a quarter of highlighted cases involved old convictions, minor offenses, or pending charges, distorting the reality of immigrant criminality.
DHS and ICE have posted about over 2,000 individuals targeted for deportation, often without providing full context or accurate criminal histories.
Some social media posts included people with no convictions, relying on charges or arrests as proof of criminality, even when cases were dismissed.
The government's campaign has been criticized for using emotionally charged images and rhetoric to justify harsh immigration policies.
State and local authorities have disputed federal claims, with some cases leading to legal setbacks for the government.
Research shows immigrants commit fewer crimes than U.S. citizens, contradicting the narrative pushed by federal social media posts.

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