U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday publicly rebuked two news organizations for what it described as sympathetic portrayals of criminal illegal aliens, using its official social media accounts to release case details that it said the outlets had omitted. The agency called out CalMatters and The Washington Post in a series of posts, each paired with specifics about the criminal histories and immigration status of the individuals involved.
"Imagine taking the word of a CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIEN at face value. Thats exactly what @CalMatters did," ICE posted, before detailing the case of Luis Arreguin. According to ICE, Arreguin is "an illegal alien and Bulldogs gang member with a criminal history including aggravated assault with a weapon, firearms offenses, and DUI." The agency did not elaborate further on the circumstances of Arreguin's case in the post, which cut off mid-sentence.
The Department of Homeland Security joined the criticism, directing its own rebuke at The Washington Post over its coverage of Amaury Jose Monsalve Figuera. "Shame on the @washingtonpost. This 'middle school coach' is a CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIEN from Venezuela who has recent arrests for firearms and drug offenses," DHS posted. The department said that on October 19, ICE arrested Monsalve Figuera after the United States Marshals Service honored an immigration detainer.
ICE amplified that message in a separate post, accusing the Post of publishing "another sob story headline that conveniently leaves out the facts." The agency identified Monsalve Figuera as "a CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIEN from Venezuela" who was arrested for "firearms, ammunition, drug, and open-container offenses." ICE further stated that "his green card was revoked following immigration fraud" but did not provide additional details on the fraud finding in the post.
The coordinated messaging extended beyond the two outlets. The Gateway Pundit, a conservative outlet with roughly 960,000 followers, posted a video segment titled "Victor Reacts: Democrat Judge Gives Illegal Alien Probation After Shooting Man." The post accompanied an article detailing the case of Aldo David Herrera-Andino, a twenty-two-year-old Honduran national who ICE said was released into the United States under the Biden administration's catch-and-release policies. According to the Gateway Pundit report, Herrera-Andino pleaded guilty to shooting a Tennessee man in the face and was sentenced to five years of probation for felony reckless aggravated assault in Davidson County.
ICE also highlighted the case of Changsong Huang, describing him as a "CHINESE ILLEGAL ALIEN PREVIOUSLY RELEASED BY SANCTUARY NY LATER ARRESTED IN PENNSYLVANIA SCAM CASE." The agency said Huang "illegally entered the United States under the Biden administration and was released into the country" before being arrested in New York on felony and misdemeanor charges. The post was truncated and did not include the full details of the charges or the disposition of the case.
The posts reflect an ongoing effort by federal immigration authorities to counter media narratives that they argue minimize the criminal histories of illegal aliens. By releasing specific arrest details and court outcomes, ICE and DHS are attempting to set the record straight on cases that have drawn national attention. The agencies have increasingly used their social media platforms to bypass traditional media filters and communicate directly with the public.
The Washington Post and CalMatters have not publicly responded to the posts. The Gateway Pundit's report on Herrera-Andino cited ICE and Breitbart News as its sources for the details of his immigration history and criminal proceedings. According to that reporting, Herrera-Andino illegally crossed the border and was arrested by Border Patrol agents in March 2021 before being released under Biden-era policies.
The cases cited by ICE and DHS span multiple states and involve defendants from Honduras, Venezuela, and China. In each instance, the agencies emphasized that the individuals had been released into the country under the previous administration's policies before being arrested on subsequent criminal charges. The Monsalve Figuera case involved a middle school coach, according to the Washington Post's characterization, a detail that DHS seized upon in its post.
The agency statements did not provide additional context about the pending legal proceedings or whether the individuals are in immigration custody. ICE's posts about Arreguin and Huang were cut off before the agency could complete its account of the cases, leaving some details unclear. The agency did not indicate whether it would release further information.
Other conservative outlets have covered similar stories in recent days. RedState reported on New York City releasing a violent illegal alien due to its sanctuary city policies, and PJ Media reported on an illegal alien who shot at a homeless encampment before an FBI agent intervened. Those reports, like the ICE posts, emphasize the contrast between sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement.
The Gateway Pundit's report on Herrera-Andino included a link for readers to contact Victor Nieves, the author of the piece. The article did not include a response from Herrera-Andino's attorney or representatives. The five-year probation sentence was handed down in Davidson County, Tennessee, according to the report.
ICE's public criticism of CalMatters and The Washington Post represents an unusual departure from the agency's typical practice of announcing arrests and enforcement actions without directly engaging with media coverage. The posts suggest a strategic decision to confront what the agency perceives as biased reporting head-on.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has similarly adopted a more combative communications posture. DHS's post targeting the Washington Post used the phrase "Shame on" and placed "middle school coach" in quotation marks, indicating skepticism about the outlet's framing of Monsalve Figuera's background.
The details released by ICE and DHS are drawn from official records and court documents, according to the agencies. The posts did not include links to those records or provide case numbers. The agencies have not announced any additional enforcement actions in connection with the individuals named.
Our Take
The mainstream media has a habit of discovering compassion for illegal aliens only after they commit violent crimes. CalMatters and The Washington Post chose to present sympathetic portraits of individuals with serious criminal histories, and federal immigration authorities were right to correct the record. The facts are straightforward: Luis Arreguin is a gang member with convictions for aggravated assault with a weapon, firearms offenses, and DUI. Amaury Jose Monsalve Figuera had his green card revoked for immigration fraud and faces firearms and drug charges. Aldo David Herrera-Andino shot a man in the face and walked away with probation. Changsong Huang entered the country illegally and was later arrested in a Pennsylvania scam case. These are not sympathetic figures, and the outlets that portrayed them as such owe the public an explanation. ICE and DHS deserve credit for refusing to let misleading narratives stand unanswered.
