During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons disclosed that there are around 1.6 million illegal aliens in the United States who have been issued final deportation orders. He noted that nearly half of these individuals possess criminal convictions, which raises concerns about public safety and immigration enforcement. This information underscores the challenges faced by immigration authorities in addressing the backlog of deportation cases and the complexities surrounding immigration law enforcement in the country.

Lyons clarified that these deportation orders are not issued by ICE or the Department of Homeland Security but originate from immigration judges within the Department of Justice. This distinction is important as it indicates that ICE is operating within a framework established by judicial decisions, which can complicate the agency's enforcement actions. The hearing included a questioning session led by Senator James Lankford, who emphasized the importance of acknowledging the hard work of immigration officers in dealing with such a significant population of individuals facing deportation.

The director also highlighted specific statistics relevant to the situation, mentioning there are 16,840 final deportation orders not executed in Minnesota. This figure helps to paint a picture of the landscape of immigration enforcement, particularly in certain states. The testimony raises broader questions about federal immigration policy, cooperation among various governmental bodies, and the ongoing debates regarding immigration reform in the U.S. as the country grapples with how to manage undocumented immigrants, especially those with criminal backgrounds.