Faced with new damaging headlines, the Department of Homeland Security put out a news release Wednesday trying to "fact-check" claims made by The New York Times about wrongful arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement — but found themselves on the receiving end of a fact-check of their own.
In particular, DHS went after several claims made in a Times report about U.S. citizens being caught up in arrests — something that has been widely reported around the country, with a lawsuit in Alabama even alleging immigration agents refused to accept a man's documentation proving he was a citizen.
DHS took issue with two cases in particular.
"FALSE CLAIM: Jason Brian Gavidia was innocently arrested during an immigration enforcement operation. THE FACTS: Gavidia was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer and interfering with agents performing their duties," said the release. "FALSE CLAIM: Javier Ramirez was driven around for hours and did not speak to a lawyer or any family member for three days. THE FACTS: Javier Ramirez was detained on the street for investigation for interference and released after being confirmed to be a U.S. citizen with no outstanding warrants."
Los Angeles Times metro reporter Brittny Mejia took issue with these responses.
"DHS continues to push out misinformation, stating that Brian Gavidia was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer. He was never arrested," she wrote on X. "It appears in their fact check that they mixed up Javier Ramirez and Brian Gavidia."
Or, as American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick put it more succinctly, "DHS just outright makes things up!"
This comes amid other claims from DHS about recent controversial cases coming under dispute, including body camera footage that contradicts their account of a fatal officer-involved shooting in Chicago.