Scheduled follow-up · Jan 15, 2027
Scheduled follow-up · Dec 31, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Jul 01, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Jun 30, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Jun 01, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · May 01, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Apr 30, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Apr 15, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Apr 01, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Mar 31, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Mar 30, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Mar 15, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Mar 08, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Mar 01, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Feb 28, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Feb 26, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Feb 25, 2026
Scheduled follow-up · Feb 15, 2026
Update · Feb 14, 2026, 04:36 AMin_progress
The claim states DHS/ICE will conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” in 2026. Official DHS communications in early 2026 show repeated announcements describing intensified arrests of criminal illegal aliens, including individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and fraud, as part of a stated 2026 effort.
Progress appears underway, with ICE publicly reporting arrests on January 2 and January 5, 2026. These releases frame the actions as part of a broad push to remove dangerous offenders from communities, indicating ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed plan.
The January 2 and January 5 releases enumerate multiple individual cases across states, illustrating the kinds of offenses ICE is highlighting. There is no published, uniform metric or deadline in these releases that signals a defined completion point for the 2026 objective.
Given the absence of a fixed end date or milestone beyond ongoing press releases, the status should be read as in_progress. The primary evidence derives from official DHS/ICE notices, which provide the most reliable record of the asserted policy direction and initial execution, though the framing reflects ICE messaging and priorities.
Update · Feb 14, 2026, 02:54 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct ‘more worst of the worst arrests’ of criminal illegal aliens, without a fixed deadline. Public DHS/ICE statements frame 2026 as a continuation and expansion of prior efforts, supported by a manpower increase cited by ICE.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 releases announcing arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes and highlighting continued removals of the ‘worst of the worst.’ The January releases also reference a manpower expansion (reportedly over 12,000 new officers) as contributing to activity levels.
Status of completion: There is no published completion date or formal end-state metric for the 2026 objective. As of February 2026, public DHS materials show ongoing arrests but do not provide a final tally or completion assessment for the year.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which reliably convey agency messaging and reported arrests but may emphasize positives. Independent verification or end-of-year metrics would help assess overall impact beyond agency framing.
Notes on incentives: The communications underscore public safety narratives and a robust enforcement posture tied to budgeted manpower increases, which conveys political and administrative incentives to demonstrate progress on enforcement goals.
Follow-up: Check a year-end DHS/ICE report or independent analyses after 2026-12-31 for a comprehensive accounting of the ‘worst of the worst’ arrests and the effect of the manpower expansion.
Update · Feb 14, 2026, 12:57 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public-facing, official DHS communications framed 2026 as a year with continued arrests of high-priority criminal illegal aliens, described as the 'worst of the worst'.
Evidence shows explicit 2026 announcements and ongoing press updates from ICE/DHS beginning in early January 2026, detailing arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes and describing these arrests as part of a broader effort in 2026.
By January 2, 2026, ICE publicly announced new-year arrests of several individuals categorized as among the 'worst of the worst,' signaling a continued campaign into 2026. Subsequent DHS updates highlighted additional arrests across states, including offenses such as murder, child abuse, kidnapping, and drug trafficking, indicating ongoing activity rather than a completed milestone.
Concrete milestones cited in DHS communications include specific arrestees and offenses on dates such as January 2, 2026, January 26–27, and February 2–3, 2026, with each release framing actions as part of 2026 efforts. There is no published end-date or completion metric in DHS releases; the completion condition remains unfulfilled as of mid-February 2026.
Source reliability: The primary sources are U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE press releases, official government communications. While the framing uses strong language about criminal threats, the information consists of arrest reports and officer actions, not independent outcome measures. Cross-checks with independent outlets are varied in tone, but the DHS releases provide the core timeline.
Overall assessment: The claim that ICE intends to conduct more 'worst of the worst' arrests in 2026 is actively pursued, with multiple arrests announced in January and early February 2026. Given ongoing announcements and the absence of a defined completion date, the status is best described as in_progress.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 10:59 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged to conduct more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” criminals in 2026. Evidence of progress: a DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms ICE began the year by announcing arrests of individuals described as among the worst criminal illegal aliens, including offenses like aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Specific arrests cited: the release lists multiple New Year’s Eve/Day arrests with named individuals and offenses, signaling concrete actions in early 2026. Completion status: there is no published completion metric or deadline; the year-long effort appears ongoing as of February 2026. Reliability note: the source is an official DHS press release, providing direct confirmation of arrests and framing of the objective, though it reflects agency perspective and framing. Overall assessment: the claim has seen initial, verifiable progress but remains uncompleted pending further actions and metrics through the year.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 08:39 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing a focus on high-priority criminal illegal aliens. Evidence from ICE/DHS communications in January 2026 shows the enforcement strategy being implemented with public announcements of arrests of individuals convicted of violent or severe offenses. This indicates initial progress relative to the stated objective, though no finalized year-end metric is published.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 07:19 PMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing a focus on removing criminal illegal aliens described as the worst of the worst, with no specific metric or deadline provided.
Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announced arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, indicating continued enforcement activity at the start of 2026. The release framed the actions as part of ongoing efforts to remove “the worst of the worst” from communities, highlighting specific cases and locations.
Status of completion: There is no publicly stated completion date or final milestone. Given ICE did not publish a metric or end date and subsequent reporting in February 2026 shows ongoing activity, the claim remains in_progress with continued enforcement actions expected but not formally completed or canceled.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone to watch would be regular ICE enforcement updates or quarterly/monthly arrest data showing the share of arrests involving individuals with prior convictions versus those without
U.S. criminal records. Public sources in January 2026 show immediate arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day and ongoing announcements; no overarching completion milestone has been declared.
Source reliability and context: The primary evidence comes from the DHS/ICE January 2, 2026 press release (official government source), which provides concrete examples of arrests but does not present a comprehensive metric. Independent analyses (e.g., FactCheck.org) note evolving data about the composition of arrests and caution against equating all “non-criminals” with non-violent profiles, underscoring data limitations and interpretation concerns. Together, these sources support ongoing enforcement activity but not a defined completion of the stated claim.
Follow-up: If the goal is to determine final completion or reassessment of the “worst of the worst” framing, a follow-up by 2026-12-31 with ICE’s annual or quarterly enforcement data and any policy clarifications would be informative.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 04:22 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE vowed in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' targeting criminal illegal aliens, including serious offenders, with no specific metrics or deadlines. The completion condition is ongoing arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' during 2026.
Progress evidence: On February 12, 2026, a DHS press release on WOW.DHS.GOV announced that ICE arrested additional criminal illegal aliens identified as the 'worst of the worst,' including individuals convicted of murder, sexual abuse of a child, and drug trafficking. The release framed these as part of a broader effort and stated that nearly 70% of ICE arrests were of individuals charged or convicted of crimes in the
U.S.
Status of arrests: The DHS release provides specific named individuals and emphasizes ongoing enforcement actions, indicating that the 'worst of the worst' arrests strategy was being carried out at least at that point in 2026. There is no publicly stated end date or completion threshold in the DHS communication; the effort appears to be an ongoing program initiative rather than a one-time event.
Reliability and sourcing: Information comes from an official DHS press release dated February 12, 2026, which is a primary source for ICE enforcement actions. Some contemporaneous fact-checking (e.g., FactCheck.org) raised questions about whether such labels can be independently substantiated, but the DHS release itself confirms the announced arrests. Cross-checking with additional independent reporting yields limited corroboration beyond policy framing; readers should consider official figures and possible updates as the year progresses.
Incentives and interpretation: The DHS/ICE framing emphasizes public safety and crime-related arrests, aligning with agency incentives to highlight enforcement. Given the lack of a fixed metric or deadline in the release, the initiative's scope may evolve; policy changes could shift arrest targets or reporting methods, affecting perceived progress toward the stated goal.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 02:18 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” expanding enforcement against high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE began 2026 with public announcements highlighting continued arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related offenses (Jan 2, 2026 release) and additional weekend arrests of murderers, gang members, and rapists (Jan 5, 2026 release). The January 5 post also touts a claimed manpower increase of over 12,000 officers and agents. These items show ongoing enforcement activity aligned with the stated aim.
Status of completion: There is no formal completion date or metric provided in the DHS releases. The policy signal remains ongoing enforcement activity rather than a concluded milestone, so the status is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Milestones and dates: December 30, 2025 (original
New Year’s resolution published), January 2, 2026 (first 2026 announcements of arrests), January 5, 2026 (continuation with a manpower expansion claim). Concrete arrests are cited by name and jurisdiction in the two January 2026 DHS pages, demonstrating tangible actions but not a finite end state.
Source reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources reflecting the agency’s own framing and claims. While the releases emphasize safety and enforcement, readers should consider potential political messaging and the incentives of presenting arrest data publicly. Overall, the information remains internally consistent across the three DHS pages and aligns with stated policy guidance.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 01:03 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE statement claimed a 2026 mandate to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified focus on removing criminal illegal aliens deemed among the most dangerous. The claim is anchored to a public-facing pledge rather than a numeric target or deadline. Official wording emphasizes a continued, expanded effort to remove high-risk individuals from communities in 2026.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE began 2026 with public announcements detailing arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including those with convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The January 2, 2026 release highlights multiple New Year’s Eve/Day arrests spanning several states, illustrating ongoing enforcement activity aligned with the pledge.
Additional milestones: A January 5, 2026 DHS release reiterates the expanded scope, citing a large increase in manpower and listing numerous new arrests of murderers, gang members, rapists, and other violent or serious offenders. The language underscores a sustained, multi-day enforcement push rather than a one-off action, reinforcing the interpretation of an ongoing 2026 program.
Current status as of 2026-02-13: There is no published completion date or metric that would indicate a finite end to the initiative. The DHS releases describe an ongoing policy direction and ongoing arrests rather than a completed milestone, consistent with an in-progress status through February 2026.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary sources for policy intentions and enforcement actions. While they describe arrests and resource increases, independent data on total arrests, prior criminal histories, or outcomes would require corroboration from third-party datasets or watchdog analyses. The statements also reflect incentives typical of immigration enforcement messaging and public safety framing.
Notes on incentives: The emphasis on “worst of the worst” and the manpower expansion align with political and administrative incentives to demonstrate aggressive enforcement and public safety assurances. Policy shifts that increase staffing or broaden arrest criteria would naturally affect arrest volumes and operational focus, which is relevant for interpreting progress and potential impacts on communities.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 11:23 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a focus on conducting more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” in 2026, signaling intensified enforcement against violent or high-risk criminal illegal aliens. The initial public framing came from a January 2, 2026 DHS press release detailing arrests tied to
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress: The January 2 release provides concrete early-2026 arrests, listing individuals and jurisdictions where arrests occurred, which demonstrates active pursuit of the stated objective at the outset of the year (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Progress completion status: There is no defined completion date or metric in the release, so the status remains in_progress. Ongoing enforcement operations throughout 2026 would be needed to determine eventual completion or sustainment of the stated goal (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Dates and milestones: The documented arrests span New Year’s Eve 2025 into New Year’s Day 2026, with named cases and charges highlighted by ICE. The source provides an initial milestone but no long-range targets or totals for 2026 (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Source reliability: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, a direct government document. While it confirms initial actions, corroboration from independent outlets would help gauge broader impact and momentum (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 09:04 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, framing this as an ongoing campaign rather than a fixed program with a deadline.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 a series of arrests aimed at individuals described as the "worst of the worst," including those convicted of homicide, sexual assault of a child, and related violent crimes (DHS press release, 2026-01-02). A follow-up DHS release on January 5, 2026 highlighted additional arrests from over the weekend, reinforcing the continuation of the effort (DHS press release, 2026-01-05).
Current status: As of 2026-02-12, ICE appears to be engaging in ongoing enforcement activity framed around high-severity offenders, with no specified completion metric or deadline provided in official statements. The lack of a defined target or end date makes it unclear when the objective would be considered fulfilled.
Source reliability: The primary sourcing is official DHS/ICE communications, which are government primary sources for policy and enforcement actions. External coverage so far corroborates that enforcement activity occurred, but independent verification of broader impact or scope remains limited.
Incentives and policy context: The messaging emphasizes public safety and removal of high-risk offenders, consistent with ICE’s stated enforcement priorities. Given the political and administrative incentives around immigration enforcement, the ongoing framing of arrests as a year-long campaign aligns with how agencies often communicate progress, though it remains unclear how the broader outcomes are measured.
Conclusion: There is concrete evidence of new arrests in early January 2026 and ongoing enforcement into February, but no completion date or success metric is published. Therefore, the status is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 05:30 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE aims to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, continuing a focus on high-severity criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst” had resumed, citing cases convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes. A January 2, 2026 release framed the effort as ongoing removal of dangerous offenders from communities. A January 5, 2026 release highlighted a manpower expansion (over 12,000 new officers and agents) tied to continued arrests for homicide, stalking, kidnapping, and rape.
Current status: Public signaling and reporting indicate ongoing arrest activity in 2026, including weekend and holiday periods. No formal completion date or universal metric has been published by ICE to mark a finite end to the program, so the effort remains in progress rather than completed.
Dates and milestones: The clearest milestones are ICE press releases dated January 2, 2026 (first-round arrests and named individuals) and January 5, 2026 (manpower expansion and ongoing arrests). These establish policy direction and concrete examples but do not provide a calendar deadline or a final completion condition.
Reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE releases, which reflect agency messaging and incentives. They corroborate arrests and policy emphasis but may present a favorable framing; cross-checking with independent enforcement data would strengthen verification.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 03:47 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. This frames ICE enforcement as a continued push to arrest individuals deemed the most dangerous offenders. The phrasing reflects an ongoing enforcement priority rather than a fixed numeric target with a deadline.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced at the start of 2026 that arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst had begun, noting cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release provides concrete examples and underscores continued enforcement activity.
Status of completion: there is no published end-date or final milestone for this initiative. The agency positions it as an ongoing effort for 2026, with a snapshot of activity at year start rather than a completed program. Without a defined completion criterion, the claim remains in_progress.
Dates and milestones: the notable milestone is the January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day and listing named individuals. No further formal milestones are published in the cited material beyond this initial activity. Ongoing updates may appear later in 2026.
Source reliability and notes: the primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, a high-quality, primary source for agency actions. Independent analysis can provide broader context on enforcement trends, but the central assertion rests on the agency’s own January 2026 announcement. Follow-up data on total arrests and outcomes would help assess full impact.
Follow-up: a review at year-end 2026 (2026-12-31) to evaluate total arrests, case outcomes, and any stated completion of the initiative would clarify whether the goal evolved into a sustained program or remained an ongoing priority.
Update · Feb 13, 2026, 02:07 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in early 2026 that it would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” during 2026. The stated aim is to broaden enforcement by targeting individuals deemed the most dangerous or destabilizing among immigration violators. The
New Year communication signaled an ongoing enforcement push rather than a one-off operation.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced on January 2, 2026, that it began the year with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The release listed a cohort of named individuals from several countries and jurisdictions, framing these arrests as the start of a continued effort to remove “the worst of the worst” from communities. This represents a concrete, initial deployment of the stated policy.
Assessment of completion status: There is no finalized completion condition or deadline for 2026 in the public record. Since arrests are ongoing activities subject to updates, the claim can be considered in_progress rather than complete. The presence of a formal year-long cadence or end-date for this initiative has not been disclosed.
Dates and milestones: The DHS ICE press release is dated January 2, 2026, marking a clear early-m-year milestone. Additional updates or quarterly summaries would be needed to determine broader progress across 2026 and whether the program sustains throughput comparable to the January kickoff. The reliability of the initial report is supported by the official DHS press release.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary source is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press release, an official government communications channel. The incentives for ICE in this framing are to improve public safety through removal of high-risk criminal aliens, which aligns with stated enforcement priorities. Given the public nature of the statement and the concrete arrests announced, the current evidence supports ongoing activity rather than a concluded outcome.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 11:30 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified focus on removing particularly dangerous or high-priority criminal illegal aliens, stated as a
New Year’s push rather than a finished program with a fixed deadline.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports ICE began 2026 with arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with specific arrests listed for
New Year’s Eve and Day.
Current status and milestones: The release provides concrete examples of arrests in early 2026 and frames them as initial progress toward the stated objective; no formal end date or comprehensive metric is provided, so progress is ongoing and measured by subsequent arrests.
Reliability and incentives: The source is an official DHS/ICE communication, lending credibility to the reported arrests and stated priorities. Given ICE’s mandate and enforcement-focused messaging, readers should consider potential narrative framing alongside operational data when evaluating overall progress.
Overall assessment: Available evidence indicates early-2026 activity aligned with the pledge, but a completed or clearly defined milestone for “more worst of the worst arrests” remains unspecified and pending further developments.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 07:08 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article claimed that DHS/ICE would pursue 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, signaling an ongoing push to arrest and remove individuals labeled as the gravest criminal offenders among illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE began the year with further arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud), framing this as continued progress in removing the 'worst of the worst' from communities. This establishes a concrete, public start to the stated 2026 initiative and provides specific cases and locales.
Current status vs. completion: The completion condition—ICE conducting additional arrests of the 'worst of the worst' during 2026—remains ongoing. There is no published end date or final tally within early 2026 to indicate completion; subsequent reporting in the year would be needed to confirm a final status.
Milestones and dates: The January 2, 2026 DHS release itself serves as the initial milestone, detailing arrests over
New Year’s Eve and Day and naming multiple individuals by name and origin. Without a formal end-date or quarterly tallies, it is difficult to assess net progress beyond the initial actions cited in the release.
Source reliability and limitations: The core evidence comes directly from an official DHS/ICE press release, which is the primary source for the claim. While it confirms an early-2026 push, it does not provide a comprehensive methodology, final metrics, or independent verification. Ongoing monitoring of ICE press releases in 2026 would clarify sustained progress and any shifts in strategy.
Follow-up note: For a fuller assessment, a mid-2026 or year-end review comparing arrest counts, cases, and geographic distribution would be helpful, using official ICE releases and independent fact-checks where available.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 04:23 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” targeting violent and criminal illegal entrants. The agency publicly framed this as a continued emphasis on arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, with no fixed completion date.
Progress evidence: DHS communications and ICE operations in early 2026 show ongoing enforcement actions described as part of the “Worst of the Worst” program, including operations in
Maine and
Minnesota that ICE and DHS officials highlighted in January 2026 press coverage. Independent reporting indicates a mixture of arrests involving individuals with criminal records and others without prior
U.S. criminal histories, reflecting a broad deployment of enhanced enforcement.
Progress assessment: While arrests have occurred and DHS/ICE publicly advertise them as part of the 2026 effort, there is no single published metric or completion date, and several outlets report that a sizable share of those detained did not have U.S. criminal records. Court filings and investigative reporting question whether the captured individuals consistently meet the stated criterion of being the “worst of the worst,” suggesting the policy’s implementation is nuanced and contested.
Reliability note: DHS’s December 2025 press release is the primary source confirming the stated policy objective, but subsequent reporting from AP, Press Herald, and local outlets provides a more mixed view of its realization on the ground. Given the variability in arrests and the lack of a uniform metric, assessments remain cautious but acknowledge ongoing enforcement activity.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 02:24 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' in 2026, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided. Evidence of progress: official DHS/ICE statements in January 2026 describe ongoing arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and note continued enforcement activity into February 2026. Completion status: there is no stated completion date or formal termination of the initiative; the releases describe ongoing operations rather than a completed program. Reliability: DHS/ICE press releases are primary sources for policy emphasis and enforcement actions, and multiple contemporaneous releases reinforce a sustained effort rather than a one-off claim.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 12:53 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge described a 2026
New Year’s emphasis on conducting “more worst of the worst arrests,” implying expanded enforcement against the most serious criminal illegal entrants in 2026.
Evidence of progress: DHS communications from late 2025 and early 2026 reference ongoing enforcement actions and framing of arrests of serious criminal illegal aliens as a focus for 2026. Independent analyses in January 2026 show rising ICE arrest activity and a growing share of detainees with no
U.S. criminal record, suggesting a shift in arrest demographics but not a clearly published metric tied to the phrase “worst of the worst.”
Current status: There is no publicly published, objective completion metric or deadline confirming the stated goal has been achieved. January 2026 reporting notes ongoing arrests and data nuances, but does not provide verifiable evidence of a formal, sustained target for “more worst of the worst arrests.”
Milestones and dates: The pledge appeared in December 2025 with reference to 2026 enforcement. Subsequent coverage in January 2026 highlights shifts in arrest composition but does not establish a dated milestone proving completion of the pledge.
Source reliability and incentives: DHS.gov is an official source, but the surrounding interpretation requires caution due to political framing. Independent analyses (FactCheck.org) emphasize data caveats about what constitutes “worst of the worst” and warn that public data do not straightforwardly validate the claim. Overall, evidence points to ongoing enforcement activity with data shifts rather than a clearly disclosed, completed objective.
Follow-up: If a formal DHS/ICE progress report or annual enforcement summary with explicit 2026 milestones becomes available, a follow-up should verify whether the pledge was fulfilled, partially fulfilled, or remains in progress.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 11:09 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so‑called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens during 2026. Official DHS releases frame these arrests as ongoing, high‑priority enforcement focused on violent criminals and sexual/serious offenses (e.g., homicide, aggravated sexual assault, child exploitation).
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued multiple press releases at the start of 2026 announcing new enforcement actions and arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst.” For example, the January 2, 2026 release highlighted arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses. A January 5, 2026 release similarly emphasized weekend arrests of murderers, stalkers, rapists, and gang members. These releases document specific individuals and jurisdictions (states such as
Texas,
New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and
California) and provide named cases.
Status of completion: There is no defined metric, deadline, or end date published by DHS for this initiative, and no official completion report has been released. The material to date demonstrates ongoing arrests and a continuing enforcement posture into early January 2026, but it remains unclear whether the goal is to complete a finite set of arrests or to sustain a continuous “more arrests” approach throughout the year.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones to watch would include quarterly or yearly DHS/ICE enforcement snapshots, public summaries of total arrests under the initiative, and any stated targets (e.g., a specified number of arrests or removals). The two DHS press releases (January 2 and January 5, 2026) establish an initial momentum but do not establish a fixed completion point.
Reliability and context of sources: The claims rely on DHS/ICE press releases, which are official statements from the agency. While these releases provide concrete case examples and stated objectives, they reflect the agency’s framing and incentives (public safety messaging, political signaling). Independent data analyses (e.g., media verification of arrest records and criminal histories) should be consulted for a fuller, non‑official assessment of the scale and nature of arrests. Overall, the sources are appropriate for tracking the policy stance and stated progress, but should be read with an understanding of the official incentive structure behind enforcement messaging.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 09:00 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The claim states that DHS/ICE planned to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, building on the 2025 framing. The DHS release from December 30, 2025 publicly framed the 2026 goal in these terms, indicating an ongoing program of high-profile arrests. Progress toward this objective is being reported through subsequent DHS ICE updates at the start of 2026. No single completion milestone was specified for the year.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced new arrests at the start of 2026, including January 2, 2026 reporting the arrest of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Additional DHS communications on January 5 and January 16–27 highlighted further arrests of individuals described as “worst of the worst,” including cases involving homicide, sexual offenses, and child exploitation. These releases indicate continued implementation of the stated mission into early 2026. The pattern of multiple, high-severity arrests across different states suggests ongoing activity rather than a one-off event.
What progress means in practice: The 2026 announcements enumerate specific individuals and charges (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses) and frame them as part of a broader effort to remove dangerous offenders. The absence of a numeric annual target or deadline in official releases means progress is measured by ongoing arrests and removals rather than a fixed milestone. As of February 11, 2026, multiple high-severity arrests have been publicly reported, indicating the program is active.
Evidence of completion, completion status, or gaps: There is no formal completion condition published for 2026, so the status cannot be labeled complete. The available DHS ICE statements show an ongoing sequence of arrests, suggesting the objective remains in_progress for the year. If the program intends to end after a specific set of cases, DHS has not disclosed such a milestone to date. The reliability of the pattern rests on regular DHS ICE press releases.
Reliability and incentives: Official DHS/ICE releases are primary sources for this claim, and they consistently emphasize public safety and removal of high-risk offenders. Critics may scrutinize the framing and the potential political incentives of highlighting “worst of the worst” cases, but the releases themselves confirm ongoing arrests. The incentive structure appears tied to public messaging around safety, deterrence, and demonstrating agency activity in immigration enforcement.
Scheduled follow-up · Feb 12, 2026
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 04:23 AMin_progress
The claim alleges that DHS/ICE intends to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. Public statements tied to this framing emerged in early January 2026, signaling a continued emphasis on high-priority criminal immigration enforcement.
Evidence of progress includes ICE’s January 2, 2026 press release announcing arrests of individuals described as the "worst of the worst"—convicted of crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release frames these actions as part of
New Year enforcement efforts targeting dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
While this demonstrates initial movement in 2026, there is no published completion date or metric indicating when the program would end or how many total arrests are required. The 2026 progress appears ongoing, with subsequent reporting likely needed to determine cumulative results by year’s end.
Source quality is strong in this instance: the primary documentation comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s official ICE press release, which provides concrete names, crimes, and locations. Independent outlets have discussed related enforcement trends, but DHS/ICE remains the authoritative issuer on this specific "worst of the worst" framing and milestones.
Overall, the claim remains realistically characterized as in_progress: a formal start to 2026 with at least one major milestone achieved (the January arrests), but without a defined end date or total target to mark completion. Continued reporting through 2026 will be needed to assess final status and whether the promise evolves into a completed set of arrests or remains ongoing.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 02:59 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 emphasis on “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified crackdown without a fixed target or deadline. The claim hinges on a public commitment issued at the start of 2026 and framed around arrests of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE has issued multiple January 2026 statements and press releases describing ongoing operations targeting violent or high-risk individuals, including
Minneapolis-focused actions under Operation Metro Surge. These materials portray continued enforcement activity aligned with the stated objective.
Milestones and indicators: DHS reports indicate continuation of arrest campaigns with concrete operational counts in early 2026, such as DHS noting thousands of arrests under the Metro Surge framework and specific weekend arrests in
Minnesota. While these items demonstrate activity, they do not constitute a finalized completion of the stated promise.
Current status: As of February 11, 2026, there is ongoing enforcement under the “worst of the worst” rubric, with no published completion date or end-of-program milestone. The evidence supports continued execution rather than completion.
Reliability note: The core evidence comes from official DHS/ICE statements and press releases, which provide authoritative framing of the policy direction. Independent analyses and broader media coverage offer context on how arrests are characterized and how data are presented, but primary verification rests with DHS materials.
Update · Feb 12, 2026, 01:17 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.”
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE began 2026 with continued progress and notes the arrest of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, framing these as part of removing the “worst of the worst” from communities. Multiple outlets summarized or reproduced the DHS release, reinforcing that arrests were underway early in 2026 (DHS, 2026-01-02; CNN context piece, 2026-01-09).
Status and milestones: There is no formal completion date or final metric published; arrests continued into early January 2026, and subsequent reporting (including a CNN interactive piece) highlights ongoing enforcement activity, public debate over tactics, and questions about whether targets align with “worst of the worst” criteria (CNN, 2026-01-09; FactCheck.org, 2026-01-28).
Source reliability and incentives: The key sources are DHS official releases and major outlets providing contemporaneous coverage; coverage notes heightened enforcement activity and associated debates about safety, scale, and methods. The initiative’s framing around “worst of the worst” appears tied to enforcement incentives and political messaging, which merits scrutiny about how arrests are prioritized and what constitutes “worst” in practice (DHS, 2026-01-02; CNN, 2026-01-09; FactCheck.org, 2026-01-28).
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 11:01 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that its 2026
New Year’s resolution would be to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.”
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE published press releases in early January 2026 announcing arrests framed as the worst of the worst, including individuals with serious prior offenses (e.g., homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child). These announcements appeared on January 2 and January 5, 2026. They describe ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026.
Current status and milestones: The agency presents these actions as an ongoing 2026 effort rather than a completed objective, with specific arrests announced but no final completion date or quantified target. The coverage indicates continued operations but does not specify a terminating milestone.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which provide primary information on enforcement statements but should be interpreted alongside independent data sources for broader context and long-term trends.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 08:31 PMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE aims to carry out more 'worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, signaling an intensified focus on removing high-risk criminal illegal aliens. Officially, DHS press materials describe a push to increase arrests of individuals categorized as the worst of the worst and to leverage a larger ICE workforce in 2026. There is no stated completion date or final metric in the claim itself. The current status appears to be a policy stance and ongoing enforcement effort rather than a completed program.
Progress evidence includes two DHS press releases in early January 2026 announcing ongoing efforts to remove high-risk offenders and highlighting specific arrests. The January 2, 2026 release frames ICE’s start to 2026 with continued progress and provides examples of arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The January 5, 2026 release notes a 120% increase in manpower and lists multiple high-severity cases as part of the initial wave of arrests. These releases together establish a public commitment and early operational activity for 2026.
The implication is that the initiative is underway rather than completed; no final tally, milestone, or end date is provided. The releases emphasize ongoing operations and future removals, with no explicit condition indicating a completed status for 2026. Independent verification or cumulative end-of-year reporting would be needed to assess ultimate completion of the promise.
Reliability notes: the sources are official DHS press releases, which provides direct insight into policy framing and operational claims from ICE. As government communications, they reflect the administration’s enforcement priorities and incentives, including public messaging around public safety and immigration enforcement. While they establish a clear trajectory for 2026, they should be read alongside independent data on arrests and removals for a more complete assessment.
In summary, the claim is best characterized as an ongoing enforcement objective with early 2026 actions already reported; there is no evidence yet of a defined completion date or final result for 2026. The available official materials indicate progress and continued operations rather than finalization.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 07:07 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. The 2026 line appears as a public pledge tied to removing high-risk offenders, with no specific numeric targets or deadlines attached. The stated aim is to increase arrests of individuals deemed the most dangerous or harmful offenders relative to prior years.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced a
New Year’s push into 2026, detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day and highlighting offenders convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes. The January 2, 2026 DHS release documents concrete cases and names, signaling the start of a continuing effort rather than a one-off action. This demonstrates initial momentum consistent with the pledge.
Status of completion: As of 2026-02-11, there is no final completion, only ongoing activity. The completion condition—ICE conducting additional arrests of individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst” during 2026—remains in progress, with periodic enforcement actions typically disclosed by ICE and DHS. No end-date or fulfillment metric has been published publicly.
Milestones and dates: The January 2, 2026 DHS press release lists multiple arrest cases across several jurisdictions, illustrating a continued operational emphasis into early 2026. There is no comprehensive annual tally released yet, and ongoing operations are typical for ICE year-to-year cycles. The absence of a completion date means progress is being measured by episodic enforcement actions rather than a single milestone.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which is a high-reliability government document for the stated content. While the outlet’s framing emphasizes public safety and the agency’s enforcement posture, it is important to note institutional incentives: DHS/ICE pursues deterrence and removal goals, which can influence how progress is presented. Cross-checking with independent reporting (e.g., national outlets tracking ICE arrests) can help balance framing, though official disclosures remain the core verification for arrest actions.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 04:28 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to carry out more “worst of the worst” arrests of dangerous illegal aliens. Evidence to date shows ongoing January 2026 reporting from ICE highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including murder, child abuse, and sexual offenses, as part of a continuing effort into the new year. There is no published completion date or end-of-year metric; the completion condition remains unsettled as a year-long activity rather than a discrete milestone. Reliability note: the sources are official DHS/ICE press releases and summaries, which consistently frame arrests under the same terminology, though evaluators should consider potential framing incentives in public agency communications.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 02:29 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, i.e., prioritize arrests of the most serious offenders, throughout 2026.
Progress evidence: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release announces that ICE began 2026 with arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” listing multiple cases (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and naming several individuals arrested on
New Year’s Eve and Day. This demonstrates at least an initial implementation of the pledge and provides concrete examples of targeted offenders.
Current status: The public record confirms a start to the program in early January 2026 and ongoing enforcement activity, but there is no published, comprehensive metric or end-date for the program. It remains in_progress as a long-running enforcement objective rather than a discrete, completed milestone.
Reliability note: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press release, which directly reflects official ICE messaging and the administration’s enforcement posture. Independent verification exists in subsequent contextual reporting, but no independent metric is provided by ICE beyond the announced arrests.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 12:52 PMin_progress
The claim asserts DHS/ICE would conduct more ‘worst of the worst’ arrests in 2026. Official DHS/ICE statements in January 2026 show ongoing enforcement targeting individuals described as the worst of the worst, with multiple monthly updates announcing arrests for serious crimes. The January 2, January 7, January 14, January 16, and January 27, 2026 releases trace a pattern of continued activity and expanded manpower, indicating progress is underway but not yet completed. The completion condition—a fixed end-date or metric—has not been stated, and no final tally or closure has been reported. Given the ongoing stream of resolutions and arrests through January 2026, the status is best described as in_progress. Reliability rests on official DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect administrative messaging and enforcement priorities rather than independent verification.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 11:02 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in early 2026 that it would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” during 2026.
Evidence of progress: on January 2, 2026, ICE released a formal press release detailing arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” listing numerous cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses among those arrested on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (DHS press release, 01/02/2026).
Status and milestones: as of February 11, 2026, there is no published endpoint or completion announcement; the program appears to be ongoing with continued enforcement activity and publicized cases, consistent with an open-ended objective rather than a completed milestone.
Reliability note: the source is an official DHS press release, which carries direct agency framing and incentives but provides specific arrest cases and dates that can be independently verifiable against agency communications (DHS press release, 01/02/2026).
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 08:48 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more 'worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Evidence of progress: ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release announcing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and framing the year as a continuation of intensified enforcement against the so-called 'worst of the worst.' This shows initial execution of the objective with concrete cases and named individuals. Status of completion: The release documents a start to the year but provides no comprehensive year-end metrics or deadline, so the claim cannot be deemed complete; it remains in_progress for the 2026 cycle. Reliability notes: The information comes from an official ICE/DHS press release, a primary source for enforcement actions, but a single-day snapshot requires corroboration from ongoing detention or arrest data to assess sustained progress through the year.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 04:35 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" targeting high-priority criminal illegal aliens. The official framing explicitly framed arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes as a core
New Year’s objective for 2026 (DHS press releases dated Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026).
Progress evidence: In early 2026, DHS/ICE publicly framed the year as a continuation of a hard-line enforcement approach, highlighting arrests of individuals described as the "worst of the worst" criminals (DHS press releases, Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026). The agency listed specific cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, and other serious crimes. The Jan 2 release additionally enumerates several individuals arrested around
New Year’s Day (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Official staffing/ability signals: The Jan 5 release touts what it calls a 120% increase in manpower and asserts ICE’s capacity to carry out these arrests with more officers, framing 2026 as an intensified enforcement effort (DHS, 2026-01-05). This is presented as a capability enhancement rather than a completion metric, with a focus on manpower rather than a fixed milestone.
Evidence of concrete arrests: The DHS statements enumerate multiple named individuals and their crimes, including homicide, aggravated sexual assault, rape, and other serious offenses, as examples of the ongoing program to remove high-risk offenders (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05). These serve as illustrative milestones rather than a formal completion condition with a deadline.
Independent corroboration and context: Coverage and analysis from independent outlets raise questions about how typically labeled "worst of the worst" arrests translate to broader outcomes, including considerations about recidivism and asylum/immigration status; a FactCheck.org piece notes shifts in arrest patterns and considerations about criminal records among those detained (FactCheck.org, 2026-01-28). This helps contextualize the scope and potential incentives behind the DHS messaging.
Bottom line: As of February 2026, the claim remains in_progress. ICE has publicly announced intensified enforcement and provided examples of arrests, but there is no fixed completion date or universal metric; progress is framed around ongoing arrests and increased manpower rather than a completed program milestone (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 02:37 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 is to conduct more arrests targeting individuals characterized as the 'worst of the worst.' The public framing centers on arrests of serious criminal illegal aliens, including sex offenses, murder, and fraud, with no explicit numeric targets or deadlines.
Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 describes ICE’s initial arrests in 2026 of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, and presents a narrative of ongoing efforts to remove the so‑called worst of the worst from communities. The release names multiple individuals and jurisdictions, signaling active enforcement at the outset of the year. This demonstrates operational activity aligned with the stated aim, albeit without quantitative milestones.
Completion status: There is no published completion date or metric indicating that the program must finish by a specific date. The January 2026 release portrays continued enforcement activity at the start of the year, but does not confirm end points or a final tally for 2026. Consequently, the status remains best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone available is the release date of January 2, 2026, announcing the New Year’s arrests and framing the initiative for 2026. No further, publicly verified milestones (e.g., quarterly targets, annual totals, or policy shifts) are documented in the sources consulted.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides direct, contemporaneous information about arrests and claims of progress. Independent coverage is mixed and often contextualizes enforcement trends; however, none of the corroborating outlets presented contradictions to the DHS claim within the available material. Given the incentives of DHS/ICE to emphasize enforcement actions, readers should view progress as contingent on ongoing agency actions rather than a completed program.
Update · Feb 11, 2026, 01:45 AMin_progress
Restatement: DHS/ICE asserted a 2026 objective to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence to date shows ICE and DHS issuing public updates in early 2026 announcing arrests targeting individuals described as among the “worst of the worst.” The releases emphasize cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 11:13 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The pledge is framed as an ongoing enforcement aim without a fixed completion date.
Progress evidence: Multiple DHS/ICE press releases in early January 2026 announced arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst,' including cases involving child sexual abuse, murder, aggravated assault, and other serious offenses, signaling ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026.
Status of completion: No explicit end date or final completion condition for 2026 is published in the material reviewed; the announcements describe continued operations rather than a completed milestone, consistent with an in_progress assessment.
Dates and milestones: Notable January 2026 milestones include arrests announced on Jan 2, Jan 5, Jan 7, Jan 14, and Jan 16, each detailing high-severity cases across the country.
Source reliability and limitations: The information originates from official DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect the agency’s stated priorities and framing. They should be read with awareness of publicity considerations and enforcement incentives.
Follow-up note: A final assessment would benefit from a year-end review (late 2026) to determine whether a formal completion summary was issued and whether the stated objective was achieved or reframed.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 09:13 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 stated a
New Year’s resolution to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” extending the prior year’s framing of targeting high-priority criminal aliens. The language appears in ICE communications around New Year 2026, positioning arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses as a priority for the year. The claim implies a continuing, ongoing effort rather than a one-time action.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced new-year arrests on January 2, 2026, describing it as beginning the year with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The press release lists multiple named individuals and jurisdictions, illustrating concrete enforcement actions early in 2026. This represents progress in the stated objective of heightened “worst of the worst” enforcement activity.
Current status of completion: There is no fixed completion date or metric published by ICE for 2026, so the completion condition (a defined, final set of arrests within the year) is not verifiable. The ongoing nature of enforcement campaigns means progress is likely incremental and continuous, not a single milestone. As of 2026-02-10, multiple arrests have occurred, but the overall year-end status remains undetermined.
Milestones/dates: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 article detailing ICE’s “worst of the worst” arrests in 2025, followed by the January 2, 2026 announcement signaling continued emphasis into 2026. The early January arrests provide a concrete milestone demonstrating the stated policy direction. No broader nationwide tally or completion metric has been published to indicate finality.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 07:13 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens, including cases involving serious offenses such as child sexual assault and murder.
Progress evidence: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release confirms ICE announced the arrest of multiple individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' at the start of 2026, highlighting cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. This demonstrates active enforcement aligned with the stated aim and provides concrete arrests tied to the pledge (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Current status and milestones: As of February 10, 2026, ICE has publicly reported additional arrests and ongoing enforcement efforts under the same framing. However, there is no published completion date or metric indicating a wrap-up or end to the program; arrests appear to be continuing, suggesting the initiative remains in-progress for 2026 (DHS/ICE press releases, 2026-01-02; 2026-02 updates).
Reliability and context: The primary sourcing is the DHS/ICE official communications, which directly reflect the agency’s stance and actions. Independent analyses, such as fact-checking outlets, have examined arrest patterns and the share of non-
U.S. records, but the core claim—ongoing 'worst of the worst' arrests—has a clear official basis and a continuing enforcement trajectory (DHS/ICE, 2026-01-02; FactCheck.org, 2026-01 and 2026-01-28 review).
Follow-up note: To assess whether the objective achieves broader completion by year-end 2026, a follow-up should review ICE arrest data and agency statements at multiple milestones throughout 2026, with a final update on 2026-12-31 (follow-up date: 2026-12-31).
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 04:31 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE signaled a 2026 objective to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” Evidence to date shows ICE continuing enforcement activity at the start of 2026, with official releases describing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes as part of removing dangerous offenders. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release announces initial arrests and frames them as part of the ongoing effort. A subsequent January 5, 2026 release reinforces the focus on high-severity cases but does not provide a completion metric or endpoint. There is no published end date or target count for these arrests, leaving the status as ongoing rather than completed. Official DHS/ICE communications are the primary basis for progress, with independent outlets monitoring the broader narrative around enforcement levels.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 02:31 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE signaled in a December 30, 2025 DHS press release that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst criminals, including child rapists and violent offenders.
Evidence of progress: The DHS release itself documents a December 30, 2025 arrest wave with named individuals and a stated intent for 2026, but it provides no concrete milestones, metrics, or timelines for continued or expanded arrests beyond the immediate report. There are no independent, verifiable progress metrics published by ICE or DHS through early February 2026 that quantify arrests, targets, or completion status for 2026.
Current status: As of 2026-02-10, there is no public, non-promotional update confirming whether the 2026 “more worst of the worst arrests” initiative has progressed, accelerated, or scaled back. The initial statement appears in a DHS press release, which is a primary source but lacks objective benchmarks or completion criteria. Independent accountability or third-party analysis confirming ongoing activity is not readily evident.
Dates and milestones: The only dated material directly addressing the claim is the December 30, 2025 DHS release and the subsequent news cycle around that piece. There are no published 2026 milestones, quarterly targets, or end-date indicators to signal completion or sustained progress. Reliability of the source is high for the claim’s wording (DHS/ICE), but the absence of follow-up data limits verification of ongoing progress.
Reliability note: The DHS press release is an official government communication, but it functions as a promotional framing of policy intent. Cross-checks with ICE enforcement data or independent watchdog reporting would be needed to assess actual execution and impact beyond the initial announcement. Given the lack of concrete milestones, the claim remains plausible but unverified in terms of measurable progress as of early 2026.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 12:52 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, signaling an intensified enforcement push. The verifiable commitment appears as a continuing policy stance rather than a one-time pledge, with no explicit end date attached to the initiative.
Evidence of progress: ICE launched 2026 with public announcements of ongoing arrests targeting high-risk individuals, including those convicted of homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and other serious felonies (Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026 DHS press releases). These releases describe multiple arrests across several states and frame the actions as a continuation of intensified enforcement under the initiative.
Status of completion: There is no completed end-state reported; rather, DHS/ICE has issued periodic updates demonstrating continued arrests early in 2026. Given the absence of a defined completion date or metric, the effort remains active and iterative rather than finished.
Dates and milestones: The January 2, 2026 release marks the formal start of the year’s campaign, with additional arrests highlighted on January 5, 2026. A later operation in December 2025 (Operation Buckeye) shows ongoing targeted efforts in prior months, indicating a sustained enforcement tempo.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE statements, which are primary-presentation materials from the agency. While they demonstrate intent and activity, they reflect the agency’s framing and incentives and should be read with an awareness of enforcement priorities and political context within ICE and the administration. Independent analyses corroborating broader trends in arrest rates and caseload composition are limited in the current snapshot but can provide fuller context over time.
Follow-up: Monitor ICE press releases and DHS updates through the 2026 calendar year to determine whether the arrest campaign achieves a measurable, defined outcome or continues as an ongoing effort. Follow-up date: 2026-12-31
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 11:20 AMin_progress
Restated claim and context: The article claimed DHS/ICE would pursue "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, as a
New Year’s resolution. It provided no metrics or deadlines, simply signaling an ongoing aggressive enforcement stance for the year. The current date is 2026-02-10, so the claim concerns actions already underway in 2026 rather than a completed outcome.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly announced at the start of 2026 that it began the year with arrests of individuals described as the "worst of the worst"—including people convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release lists multiple specific arrests and provides narrative justification emphasizing removal of violent and predatory offenders. This constitutes initial progress toward the stated objective.
Status of completion: There is no completion condition or deadline provided in the public statements, and no official concession that the objective is finished. Given the ongoing nature of immigration enforcement operations, the status as of 2026-02-10 is that enforcement actions aligning with the claim are in progress, not completed.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone appears to be the January 2, 2026 press release announcing the first wave of arrests for the year and naming several individuals by name and origin. No further milestones or end dates are publicly published in official DHS communications to date.
Source reliability and incentives: The cited source is an official DHS press release, which is a primary source for policy and enforcement actions from ICE. While the outlet aligns with government communications and timestamps, note that enforcement rhetoric can reflect policy emphasis and incentives to portray progress. Independent analyses (e.g., fact-checking or immigration watchdogs) should be consulted for a broader view of trends and impacts beyond official framing.
Follow-up note: If you want a concrete assessment at year-end 2026, a follow-up on 2026-12-31 or after would be appropriate to determine whether the pronounced emphasis on the "worst of the worst" arrests continued and whether any formal completion criteria were announced.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 08:57 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE promised in 2025 that 2026 would see more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, with no specific metrics or deadlines.
Progress evidence: In early 2026, DHS/ICE issued multiple press releases detailing arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst,' including offenses such as homicide, sexual offenses, and other violent crimes (examples dated Jan 5 and Jan 8, 2026).
Current status: The material shows ongoing enforcement actions and public messaging but no announced completion or end date for the initiative; actions appear to continue through January 2026 with no defined milestone.
Milestones and dates: Notable dates include January 5, 2026 (new-year messaging and offender arrests) and January 8, 2026 (additional arrests). These illustrate activity but not a concluded endpoint.
Reliability note: DHS/ICE official releases are primary sources for arrests and policy framing. While the communications emphasize enforcement, they reflect institutional incentives to portray progress and may use strong enforcement language.
Follow-up: Monitor DHS/ICE updates in subsequent weeks to confirm whether a defined completion or further policy shift is announced.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 04:40 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests.” The source framing is from a DHS press release pattern that labels arrests this way for the new year. The claim is best understood as an enforcement objective rather than a fixed, metric-based goal with a deadline.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE published a January 2, 2026 press release announcing the New Year’s first wave of arrests targeting the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS, 2026-01-02). A subsequent January 5, 2026 DHS release expanded on ongoing arrests of violent offenders, listing cases involving homicide, kidnapping, rape, and related crimes (DHS, 2026-01-05). These releases indicate activity intended to fulfill the stated aim, but they do not provide a formal completion metric or final deadline.
Completion status and milestones: There is no documented completion date or endpoint. The releases describe ongoing arrests at the start of 2026 and frame enforcement as a continuing effort rather than a concluded program. Given the lack of a defined completion condition, the status remains best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Source reliability and incentives: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for agency actions and statements. The messaging emphasizes removing individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst” and reflects law-enforcement incentives to highlight arrests of violent or predatory offenders. Consumers should consider the context of enforcement objectives and the absence of explicit metrics when assessing progress.
Update · Feb 10, 2026, 04:00 AMin_progress
Summary of the claim: The DHS/ICE pledge stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. The public claim circulated alongside a January 2026 DHS press release that framed ICE’s efforts around intensified arrests of high-risk individuals. The statement sets an ongoing, year-long objective rather than a discrete, completed milestone.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 announces that ICE would launch into the new year with “more arrests of the worst of the worst” criminals, and it highlights a sequence of weekend arrests of individuals with violent criminal histories. The release attributes a substantial increase in manpower (citing “more than 12,000 new officers and agents”) and frames operations as ongoing throughout 2026. This indicates initial momentum, not final completion.
Current status and completion assessment: There is no public evidence of a formal completion or end-date for the stated goal; rather, the material describes an ongoing enforcement posture and continued arrests. Given the absence of a defined deadline or measurable target in the official materials, the status remains best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Dates and milestones: The January 5, 2026 DHS release provides the primary milestone—an explicit start-of-year push and a list of individual arrests over a weekend—but it does not specify metrics, timelines, or a final completion date. Subsequent reporting in early 2026 likewise centers on ongoing arrests rather than concluding a fixed program.
Source reliability and neutrality: The information comes from an official DHS/DHS ICE press release (government source). While the claim reflects the agency’s stated policy stance, coverage from independent outlets does not contradict the core assertion but notes ongoing arrest data that may be influenced by law-enforcement incentives. Fact-checking outlets have not identified errors in the basic timeline presented by DHS in this instance.
Follow-up note: If new data emerge on the end date, volume, or evaluative metrics of the program in 2026, a follow-up should reassess whether the goal has progressed toward completion or remains in_progress.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 10:41 PMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, continuing the pattern described in the prior year. The source framing presents it as a
New Year’s resolution and a continuing enforcement objective for 2026. The official articulation implies ongoing prioritization of high-severity cases rather than a discrete annual target. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02)
Evidence of progress: ICE announced new arrests on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, highlighting individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, and labeling them among the “worst of the worst” in enforcement actions. The DHS release describes multiple named individuals and jurisdictions, indicating active pursuit of high-priority cases at the start of 2026. (DHS ICE press release, 2026-01-02)
Current status and completion: There is no fixed completion date or metric published for the initiative, and DHS/ICE has not announced a final tally or end date for 2026. Based on the available official notice, the effort appears to be an ongoing enforcement posture rather than a completed milestone. No public closure or achievement date is provided. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02)
Dates and milestones: The primary milestone reported is the New Year’s arrests announced on January 2, 2026, with listed individuals and locations. No subsequent quarterly or annual completion checkpoints have been released in the public notice, leaving the overall timeline indeterminate beyond the stated 2026 focus. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02)
Source reliability note: The principal evidence comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, which is the primary source for policy intent and enforcement actions. Supplemental context from independent fact-checking outlets helps frame data interpretation, but DHS remains the authoritative source for the stated objective and arrests. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02; FactCheck.org, 2026-01-28)
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 08:47 PMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE would pursue more arrests of the “worst of the worst” in 2026, i.e., a renewed emphasis on removing high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress includes formal statements and subsequent arrest announcements from ICE at the start of 2026. DHS pages published on January 2 and January 5, 2026 describe intensified operations and arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, framed as continuing the prior year’s efforts and expanding manpower (notably referencing newly deployed officers and ongoing operations). These posts explicitly label those arrests as part of the year’s “worst of the worst” effort.
As of February 9, 2026, there is no public closure or completion notice indicating that the goal has been achieved or wrapped up; instead, the agency appears to report ongoing operations and multiple arrests as the year progresses. The December 30, 2025 DHS release framed the New Year’s resolution, and the January 2026 updates operationalize that commitment with concrete arrest announcements.
Key milestones so far include the January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 DHS/ICE posts detailing specific individuals and offenses (e.g., homicide, aggravated assault, rape, domestic violence, and gang affiliation) among those arrested. The lack of a single, verifiable completion date or metric means progress is being measured in ongoing arrests rather than a discrete finish line.
Source reliability is high for these items, as they come directly from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/ICE. Readers should note the explicit framing of “worst of the worst” is a DHS communication choice and may reflect agency incentives to demonstrate heightened enforcement activity; external verification beyond ICE press postings would strengthen cross-source corroboration.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 07:06 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens. The claim anticipated a continued emphasis on high-severity cases throughout 2026. The article framing this as a
New Year’s resolution suggested an ongoing operational push rather than a one-off action.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE’s start to 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release provides a list of specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, signaling continued targeting of high-severity cases. This demonstrates a concrete early-year implementation of the pledge.
Current status vs. completion: As of February 9, 2026, ICE appears to be actively pursuing arrests of high-severity offenders, aligning with the stated goal of focusing on the 'worst of the worst.' There is no formal completion date or final metric published, and ICE’s enforcement operations are inherently ongoing, suggesting the objective remains in_progress rather than completed.
Milestones and dates: The January 2, 2026 DHS release explicitly lists multiple arrests and identifies cases across several states, marking a milestone in the year’s enforcement wave. The page also frames the effort as a continuation of ICE enforcement priorities, rather than a singular event. No end-date or cumulative tally is provided in the public record yet.
Source reliability and caveats: The key source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides primary, authoritative information on enforcement actions. Supplemental context from independent outlets raises questions about broader trends in arrests versus prior conviction histories, but the core claim about starting 2026 with intensified actions is corroborated by the DHS release. Given the incentives of a government agency to frame enforcement as progress, readers should consider cross-checking with ICE statistics for overall trends in 2026.
Follow-up note: If the goal is to determine whether the 'more worst of the worst arrests' campaign achieves a measurable endpoint, a follow-up assessment should track quarterly ICE arrest statistics and case-mix in 2026 (e.g., total arrests, offenses, prior criminal history). A concrete update would be due around mid-2026 to evaluate whether the year delivered sustained, measurable impact.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 04:28 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress includes a DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 announcing a renewed push with expanded manpower and the explicit framing of ongoing 'worst of the worst' arrests nationwide, including examples such as homicide, stalking, kidnapping, and rape. Additional evidence of activity appears in ICE press materials noting arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' in
Minnesota in January 2026. Taken together, these items show the policy stated in 2026 is being pursued through intensified enforcement actions, but there is no formal completion metric or end date published, so the status remains ongoing rather than completed.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 02:26 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that their
New Year’s resolution for 2026 would be to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens. The claim implied an ongoing, intensified effort without a fixed completion deadline.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with continued operations targeting high-risk individuals. A January 2, 2026 DHS press release details multiple arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of a continued effort to remove dangerous offenders.
Assessment of completion status: There is no formal completion condition or deadline attached to the goal, only an ongoing operational objective. The reported arrests demonstrate activity under the stated aim, but whether the broader program has a measurable endpoint remains unclear.
Milestones and dates: The two cited DHS releases (Dec 30, 2025 and Jan 2, 2026) establish a start-of-year cadence for “worst of the worst” arrests and provide specific case examples across multiple states. These releases serve as concrete milestones showing continued focus but do not indicate a final completion date.
Source reliability and caveats: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for policy and enforcement announcements. While they reflect the agency’s framing and priorities, they may emphasize positive campaign-style language and specific high-profile cases, so independent corroboration from non-government outlets can help verify broader impact and trend data.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 12:51 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was a stated aim to conduct more so-called "worst of the worst" arrests of criminal illegal aliens in 2026.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued multiple January 2026 press releases highlighting arrests of individuals characterized as the "worst of the worst" across various jurisdictions, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes. Notable releases dated January 2, 2026; January 16, 2026; and ongoing updates into February 2026 document ongoing enforcement actions and arrests nationwide.
Status of completion: There is no final completion date or metric published; the agency continued to publish new arrest announcements through February 2026. Based on the available DHS statements, the program appears active and ongoing rather than completed or cancelled as of 2026-02-09.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary communications from the agency. While the framing uses admission of removing serious offenders, independent verification of nationwide arrest totals for 2026 is not provided in these releases. Additional independent fact-checking shows a mix of perspectives on “worst of the worst” metrics, but the DHS releases themselves consistently describe ongoing arrests as of early 2026.
Follow-up note: To assess final status, a comprehensive year-end tally or agency-wide metric for calendar year 2026 would be needed. A follow-up on or after 2026-12-31 is recommended to determine whether the completion condition was achieved or if the program continued beyond 2026.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 11:05 AMin_progress
The claim asserts that DHS/ICE aims to carry out more “worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. The official DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 frames the initiative as a continuation of a “New Year, Same Mission” to arrest criminal illegal aliens, highlighting a substantial manpower increase and ongoing enforcement activity (DHS 2026-01-05).
Evidence of progress to date includes the rollout of intensified arrests at the start of 2026 and publicized cases of individuals convicted of homicide, rape, kidnapping, and other crimes being targeted, as described in the DHS release (DHS 2026-01-05). Independent reporting in late 2025 had noted spikes in ICE activity and a higher daily arrest rate tied to policy changes and staffing levels (Axios 2025-12-04).
There is no defined completion date or specific metrics in the official statement, consistent with the claim’s completion condition. The DHS page presents arrests as an ongoing enforcement effort rather than a discrete milestone with a deadline (DHS 2026-01-05). As of February 2026, external reporting indicates continued higher-than-baseline ICE activity, but formal end-state criteria remain unspecified (Axios 2025-12-04; DHS 2026-01-05).
Source reliability: the primary reference is a
U.S. government DHS press release, which directly conveys the administration’s framing of the policy, complemented by coverage from
Axios that tracks arrest trends and staffing. Readers should note that enforcement rhetoric can reflect administrative incentives and messaging; verifiable arrest figures and policy thresholds remain unsettled without comprehensive, independent data (DHS 2026-01-05; Axios 2025-12-04).
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 08:36 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, with no specified completion deadline. Public DHS communications describe the effort as a continuation of enforcement rather than a finished program. The claim hinges on rhetoric and ongoing policy activity rather than a fixed metric.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly publicized multiple arrests in January 2026 under the “Worst of the Worst” banner, including arrests on January 2, 5, 7, and 16–27. The agency highlighted a 120% increase in manpower and ongoing removals of individuals convicted of serious crimes. These announcements show enforcement activity, not a final outcome.
Current status: There is no published completion condition or deadline for the claim. The January 2026 DHS pages emphasize ongoing arrests and staffing increases, suggesting the initiative remains active but not completed as of February 2026.
Milestones and reliability: Specific arrest announcements and the stated manpower expansion constitute milestones, but they are official DHS communications and not independent outcome verifications. The framing may reflect policy incentives, so independent corroboration would strengthen external validation.
Reliability note: Sources are DHS/ICE press releases and DHS pages, which reliably document announced arrests and personnel increases but may present the program favorably. Independent analyses (e.g., FactCheck discussions) can provide critical context but rely on DHS-supplied figures for the core progress data.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 04:05 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would include more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens. The 2025 DHS release framed this as a
New Year’s resolution to expand enforcement against highly dangerous offenders. The follow-up reporting through early 2026 shows ICE continuing to announce and publicize these arrests as the year begins (DHS releases 12/30/2025 and 01/05/2026).
Progress evidence: A DHS update dated January 5, 2026 explicitly touts continued arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, highlighting murderers, gang members, rapists, and other violent offenders, and attributing the activity to increased manpower (over 12,000 new officers and agents) and sustained enforcement posture. This indicates ongoing implementation of the 2026 objective as framed by DHS (DHS press releases 12/30/2025; 01/05/2026).
Progress assessment: The initial completion condition—conduct additional arrests of individuals labeled the worst of the worst during 2026—has not been definitively completed or quantified by a single milestone date as of early February 2026. DHS continues to publish arrest announcements, but there is no formal, independently verifiable completion tally or deadline; the policy remains active and in-progress rather than concluded.
Dates and milestones: Key dates include the original press release on 12/30/2025 announcing the 2026 stance, followed by a January 5, 2026 update detailing ongoing arrests and a manpower expansion. The department has not published a final 2026 completion metric or year-end recap to confirm closure of the stated objective.
Source reliability note: The claims originate from official DHS/ICE communications, which provide direct statements about enforcement posture and arrests. While these sources are primary, they are government messaging and may reflect policy incentives or framing favorable to ICE. Corroborating independent data on arrest counts and demographics from non-government analyses (e.g., independent think tanks or data projects) would help triangulate the scope and impact of the stated objective.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 02:00 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" of criminal illegal aliens, with no specific completion metric or deadline. Evidence of advancement: DHS published a January 2, 2026 press release announcing ICE would begin the year with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminals, highlighting arrests and removals (DHS, 2026-01-02). Subsequent progress: ICE publicly reported arrests on January 10, 2026 in
Minnesota, including individuals convicted of murder, child rape, and related offenses, demonstrating that arrests fitting the described category were being carried out early in 2026 (ICE press release, 2026-01-10). Reliability and scope: The outlets show ongoing enforcement activity but do not provide a quantifiable metric or comprehensive year-end tally, making it difficult to assess scale or whether the stated objective is being met against a defined measure. Completion status: There is no completion date given for the goal, and early 2026 activity indicates continued arrests rather than a final milestone; thus, progress appears ongoing rather than completed. Source reliability: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for agency actions, though they frame arrests in narrowly positive terms and may reflect policy incentives to emphasize enforcement.
Update · Feb 09, 2026, 12:18 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, signaling an intensified focus at year start without a fixed completion date.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE began 2026 with public announcements of arrests targeting individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes (DHS press releases dated Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026). These statements follow ICE’s December 2025 recap highlighting arrests of violent offenders in the prior year (DHS press release, Dec 30, 2025).
Current status and completion outlook: There is no published completion date or metric indicating a formal end to the initiative. Subsequent DHS releases in early January 2026 describe continued arrests as the year begins, but do not establish a final target or deadline, leaving the claim in_progress.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE releases (DHS.gov), offering contemporaneous, primary details about the arrests and the stated policy framing. Fact-checking outlets have questioned the characterization of “worst of the worst” in immigration enforcement, but the DHS material itself confirms ongoing arrests framed as 2026 objectives. Follow-up date: 2026-12-31.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 10:16 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE asserted in early 2026 that the agency would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing its enforcement emphasis into the new year. The statement lacks specific metrics or deadlines, framing the goal as an ongoing objective rather than a fixed completion target. It appears in official ICE/DHS communications inaugurating 2026. The claim is rooted in public agency messaging rather than a formal, auditable program plan.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 08:03 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE vowed in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst.' The official framing was repeated in a January 2026 DHS press release, signaling continued prioritization of high-impact arrests early in the year (DHS press release, 2026-01-02; 2025-12-30 original).
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced multiple arrests in early 2026, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes (DHS press release, 2026-01-02). The January 2026 materials list numerous specific arrests nationwide, illustrating ongoing enforcement activity under the stated policy emphasis (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Status of completion: There is no defined metric, deadline, or end-date provided for completing a quota or program outcome; the material frames ongoing enforcement rather than a completed program. As of now, the record shows continual arrests rather than a finalized milestone, with no formal completion date (DHS press releases, 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02).
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 release announcing 2025 wrap-up and the January 2, 2026 release inaugurating 2026 enforcement with listed arrests of high-severity cases (DHS, 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02). These releases establish a repeated, year-start emphasis rather than a completed action, and there is limited public detail on long-term milestones beyond ongoing arrests (DHS press releases).
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which reliably reflect the agency’s framing and stated priorities. Given the political framing and incentive structures around immigration enforcement, readers should note that these narratives emphasize perceived public safety gains and may reflect policy emphasis as much as independent verification of cases opened or closed (DHS press releases).
Overall assessment: The claim remains underway, with ongoing arrests at the start of 2026 but no published completion criterion or date. The current public record indicates continued enforcement activity consistent with the stated objective, rather than a concluded program outcome (DHS press releases).
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 06:29 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, framed as a
New Year’s resolution and continued enforcement posture. The claim traces to DHS/ICE communications dated December 30, 2025 and January 5, 2026. The framing emphasizes high-severity offenders and a ramp-up in manpower, without a specific end date or quantitative target.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 04:05 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an ongoing enforcement push against high-risk criminal illegal aliens with no explicit end-date.
Evidence of progress: Official DHS/ICE releases in January 2026 announce continued arrests described as the worst of the worst, including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The releases are incremental, naming individuals and jurisdictions as the year begins.
Status of completion: There is no published final completion metric or end date for 2026; the agency’s ongoing press releases indicate activity through early January and a continuing campaign rather than a closed-end milestone.
Key dates and milestones: January 2, 2026 announcement of initial arrests; January 5, 2026 follow-up admissions of additional cases; January 16, 2026 broader arrests reported—each demonstrating continued enforcement activity rather than a final tally.
Source reliability and framing: The updates come from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are authoritative for agency messaging but may reflect incentives to emphasize aggressive enforcement. Independent corroboration would help gauge broader impact; for now, the status remains in_progress.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 02:10 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE asserted in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting high-severity criminal illegal aliens. The completion condition is ongoing arrests of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst during 2026, with no specific metrics or deadlines.
Evidence of progress: DHS press releases from January 2026 indicate ICE began the year with intensified enforcement and reported arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including homicide and sexual assault. A January 2, 2026 DHS release highlights specific cases across states; a January 5, 2026 release reiterates ongoing arrests of the worst of the worst. These show activity at the start of 2026.
Assessment of completion status: As of February 8, 2026, arrests continue and are framed as ongoing enforcement, but no year-end deadline or quantified target is disclosed. Given the open-ended completion condition, the status remains in_progress.
Notes on reliability: The primary sources are DHS press releases (DHS.gov), which provide official statements and case-level details. While some outlets critique or contextualize enforcement, the core evidence comes from DHS communications and named arrests.
Bottom line: Early 2026 shows continued arrests framed as the worst of the worst, but no final completion milestone is published; the status is in_progress.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 12:23 PMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The framing ties this to a New Year’s push to arrest and remove individuals described as the most dangerous or violent offenders.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly framed the start of 2026 as a continuation and expansion of prior efforts, with press releases in early January 2026 announcing arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' across multiple jurisdictions. The releases cite offenses including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, alongside notes of increased manpower and ongoing removals.
Current status: As of early February 2026, DHS/ICE activity appears ongoing, with multiple January 2026 releases detailing arrests of violent offenders nationwide. There is no published closure or completion announcement; the effort is presented as an ongoing mission.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 release highlighting arrests for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, and the January 5, 2026 release noting a large manpower expansion and continued arrests of murderers, stalkers, rapists, and gang members. Additional releases in subsequent weeks continued the same framing.
Reliability and incentives: The reporting comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, the primary source for agency actions and milestones. Observers should consider the political/incentive context in highlighting aggressive enforcement, though the releases indicate a sustained campaign rather than a one-off event.
Follow-up note: If enforcement priorities shift, resource levels change, or new policy guidance emerges, a brief update should be issued to confirm whether the objective remains ongoing or evolves.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 11:03 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly aimed to conduct more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” high-risk criminal illegal aliens in 2026, signaling an intensified enforcement push.
Evidence of progress: ICE announced the start of 2026 with arrests described as targeting individuals convicted of severe offenses, such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release documents these initial arrests and frames them as part of ongoing removal efforts.
Status of completion: There is explicit documentation of new arrests at the year's outset, but no stated completion metric, total target, or deadline. The campaign appears ongoing, with no definitive end date announced in the public materials.
Dates and milestones: The milestone to watch is the January 2, 2026 press release announcing the year’s arrests. No further milestones or completion dates are provided; continued updates would indicate progress toward or beyond an ongoing enforcement objective.
Reliability and incentives: The primary source is a DHS/ICE official press release, a direct government document. While framing emphasizes public safety and officer bravery, independent corroboration in subsequent updates would strengthen verification of ongoing progress.
Follow-up note: Monitor ICE DHS updates throughout 2026 for explicit milestones, totals, or policy clarifications regarding “worst of the worst” arrests to determine whether the objective progresses toward a defined endpoint.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 08:54 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 focus on “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing in 2026 the framing from late 2025. Evidence shows DHS/ICE published 2026 posts announcing arrests of individuals labeled as the worst offenders, with January 2026 updates detailing numerous cases. There is no formal completion date or metric listed; progress is presented as ongoing as of early 2026, with regular updates to arrests in the worst-of-the-worst category. Sources are official DHS communications; while they corroborate the narrative, they reflect agency messaging rather than independent verification of outcomes.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 04:04 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 priority to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” framed as expanding arrests of high-risk criminal illegal aliens with no numeric target or deadline. The statement depicts an ongoing enforcement emphasis rather than a finite program with a completion date. (DHS press release, 12/30/2025)
Evidence of progress: ICE issued January 2026 updates highlighting arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including cases in
Minnesota and other jurisdictions (Jan 8–14, 2026). These reports show continued enforcement activity but do not provide a cumulative metric or threshold. (ICE News Releases, 01/08/2026; 01/10/2026; 01/14/2026)
Status of completion: There is no fixed completion date or metric; the narrative describes ongoing operations. As such, the status remains in_progress rather than complete or failed. (DHS.gov; ICE News Releases)
Dates and milestones: The initial public marker is December 30, 2025; concrete milestones cited are January 2026 arrest announcements. No end date is specified in official releases. (DHS.gov; ICE News Releases)
Reliability and incentives: The sources are official government communications; interpretations should consider possible enforcement-policy framing. Independent data on arrest composition would help assess impact beyond the promoted narrative. (DHS.gov; ICE News Releases)
Overall assessment: The claim has not been completed by a fixed date; ICE appears to be pursuing ongoing “worst of the worst” arrests through early 2026 and beyond. The status is best described as in_progress. (DHS.gov; ICE News Releases)
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 02:02 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, focusing on the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced New Year 2026 arrests and ongoing enforcement, including a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses. This supports continued emphasis on high-severity cases at the start of 2026, but there is no formal completion milestone or end date for the objective. Reliability: agency messaging aligns with enforcement emphasis, but independent corroboration of systemic change beyond official ICE releases remains limited. Overall status: ongoing enforcement activity with initial high-severity arrests; no completed completion criteria reported yet.
Update · Feb 08, 2026, 12:15 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The claim frames this as a
New Year’s resolution to intensify enforcement targeting individuals with severe crimes, with no formal metric or deadline provided beyond ongoing activity throughout 2026. The source material from DHS presents the promise as a continuing policy emphasis rather than a fixed completion goal. The phrasing in the DHS release suggests an ongoing enforcement posture rather than a one-off milestone.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly signaled continued action for 2026 with a January 2, 2026 announcement describing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud) and framing these as part of the ongoing effort to remove the 'worst of the worst' from communities. This demonstrates movement from the prior year into the new year and a maintained priority on high-severity cases. Subsequent reporting and fact-checking coverage in January 2026 corroborated continued ICE enforcement in this vein, though interpretations of the data varied.
Status of completion: There is evidence of ongoing activity in early 2026, but no fixed end-date or universal metric conferring final completion is published. Because the completion condition relies on continuous arrests throughout 2026 with no explicit end date, the status remains best characterized as in_progress. The available official communication indicates sustained emphasis rather than a completed program with a single date-cased endpoint.
Source reliability and notes: The principal source is a DHS/ICE official press release, which is appropriate for assessing government enforcement policy and stated aims. Independent outlets and fact-checkers have reported on ICE arrest data and shifts in enforcement intensity, but some outlets may reflect partisan framing or interpretation of the data. Given the topic’s political sensitivities, cross-referencing with additional official DHS/I.C.E. data releases and independent statistical summaries helps ensure balanced understanding.
Follow-up: A review at year-end 2026 (2026-12-31) or after a complete 12-month window would best determine whether the stated 'more worst of the worst arrests' objective achieved a defined completion or remained an ongoing policy emphasis.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 10:18 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 objective to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The framing emphasizes targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens. (DHS/ICE press releases, 2026-01-02; 2026-01-05)
Progress evidence: DHS press releases on January 2 and January 5, 2026, describe ongoing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, signaling active enforcement aligned with the stated goal. The January 5 release reiterates the mission and highlights weekend arrests of murderers, stalkers, rapists, and gang members. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05)
Status assessment: The materials show continued enforcement and a stated increase in manpower, but no public metric or deadline is provided to mark completion. Therefore, progress is evident, but the claim remains in_progress rather than completed or failed as of early 2026. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05)
Reliability note: The sources are official DHS press releases, which provide authoritative statements of policy and actions but reflect the administration’s framing. Independent verification of arrests and outcomes would strengthen the assessment. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05)
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 08:08 PMin_progress
Summary of the claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling intensified enforcement targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The claim originates from DHS/ICE press releases stating a
New Year’s resolution to expand efforts in 2026.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) in early January 2026, as reported in DHS press releases. A January 5, 2026 DHS release reiterates the pledge to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, indicating policy continuity and ongoing enforcement activity.
Current status: As of 2026-02-07, there is documented enforcement activity and publicity around high-profile arrests, but no published completion date or clear metrics showing the program is finished. The available information reflects an ongoing effort rather than a closed project with defined milestones.
Reliability and context: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases (January 2026), which are authoritative but reflect agency messaging and incentives. Independent analyses in early 2026 examined ICE data on arrests and convictions, but the core claim remains tied to agency framing of priorities; long-term trends require future data releases.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 06:29 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified focus on removing high-risk, violent, or similarly dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The pledge centers on increasing arrests of individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst” during 2026, with no fixed metric or deadline for completion.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests targeting individuals convicted of serious crimes, including sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS press release dated 2026-01-02). ICE later highlighted arrests in
Minnesota on January 10, 2026, emphasizing operations against a group described as the “worst of the worst” and detailing several high-risk cases (ICE News Release, 2026-01-10).
Assessment of completion status: The materials show continued enforcement activity in early 2026, consistent with an ongoing program rather than a one-time completion. There is no published, final, or end-date milestone indicating when the goal would be fully achieved; rather, the narrative suggests recurring actions throughout 2026 (DHS 2026-01-02; ICE 2026-01-10).
Reliability and context: The sources are official
U.S. government communications (DHS and ICE), which provides direct insight into policy framing and operations. While these outlets emphasize the safety rationale and law-enforcement focus, they do not provide independent verification of broader impact or long-term outcomes beyond specific arrests and statements of intent.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 04:03 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly promised in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an explicit
New Year’s resolution to increase arrests of certain high-priority criminal illegal aliens. The source describing the promise is an official DHS release dated December 30, 2025, which quotes a DHS spokesperson and lists several high-severity arrests from the prior period, followed by the stated 2026 resolution. The language reflects policy emphasis rather than a quantified target or deadline, and no independent metrics are provided in the release.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 02:09 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE announced an ongoing initiative for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, focusing on individuals with severe or violent convictions (the 2025 and 2026 DHS releases frame this as a continuing mission).
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued multiple January 2026 press releases detailing arrests of individuals labeled as part of the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other violent offenses (Jan 2, Jan 5, Jan 6, Jan 7, Jan 16, 2026; DHS.gov). One release notes more than 12,000 officers hired to accelerate removals (Jan 6, 2026; DHS.gov).
Current status as of 2026-02-07: The program appears ongoing, with successive rollouts of arrests in early January 2026 and continued DHS rhetoric framing the effort as a year-long, high-priority initiative. There is no published completion date, and the arrest program is described as a continuing effort rather than a concluded action (DHS.gov, Jan 2–16, 2026).
Milestones and dates: Key documented milestones include the January 2, 2026 kickoff announcing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud; January 5 and January 7 releases expanding the roster of crimes; January 16 update highlighting ongoing arrests of pedophiles and other serious offenders (DHS.gov). These show a pattern of sustained activity in the early weeks of 2026.
Reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, providing primary statements about arrests and personnel actions. While the framing emphasizes public safety, it is essential to recognize these releases reflect the agency’s policy priorities and incentives, including political messaging. Cross-referencing with independent crime data or court records could further verify individual case details (DHS.gov; ICE press releases).
Bottom line: The claim that ICE would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026 is moving forward, with multiple confirmed arrests and ongoing enforcement activity through early January 2026. Given the lack of a defined completion metric, the status remains best characterized as in_progress (as of 2026-02-07).
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 12:32 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more "worst of the worst" arrests. Evidence so far shows initial action at the start of 2026, but no published metric or deadline specifying a completion threshold. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release confirms ICE began the year with arrests described as removing the "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. There is no single metric or deadline provided for a full-year completion; the claim remains ongoing as the year progresses.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 11:02 AMin_progress
Brief restatement: The claim asserts that DHS/ICE aims to carry out more arrests of the so‑called “worst of the worst” in 2026, framed as a
New Year’s resolution. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced on January 2, 2026 that it began the year with arrests targeting individuals convicted of serious offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release documents multiple named individuals and localities, illustrating concrete arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day as part of the initiative. Reliability note: the source is an official
U.S. government press release from DHS/ICE, providing a primary account of the stated policy and actions.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 08:54 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so‑called worst of the worst. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release explicitly frames the year as rings in 2026 with more arrests of worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, signaling an ongoing enforcement push (DHS ICE 2026-01-02). A December 30, 2025 DHS note described a similar emphasis as 2025 closed, providing context for the stated objective (DHS 2025-12-30).
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 04:55 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. Evidence of progress: DHS issued Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026 press releases citing initial arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, with specific cases and jurisdictions highlighted. Completion status: no fixed end-date or final metrics are provided; the program is described as ongoing. Source reliability and incentives: sources are official DHS communications, which may reflect enforcement emphasis and public messaging; readers should consider potential incentives to portray momentum and enforcement success. Overall: the claim reflects an ongoing enforcement push with early arrests; no definitive completion is reported.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 02:52 AMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, effectively continuing a policy emphasis on high-severity criminal illegal aliens. The original statement appears in a DHS press release dated December 30, 2025, which explicitly frames 2026 as a year with a heightened focus on arrests of those labeled as the worst of the worst.
Evidence of progress or momentum toward that claim appears in early 2026 DHS updates, which enumerate arrests of individuals described as among the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other violent crimes. A subsequent DHS release reiterates continued emphasis on high-severity cases and cites additional arrests of murderers, gang members, and rapists.
Taken together, these DHS disclosures show ongoing activity consistent with the claim’s premise of intensified targeting of the most serious offenders in 2026, though they do not specify a fixed metric, volume, or deadline for completion within the year. The completion condition—“ICE conducts additional arrests of individuals characterized as the ‘worst of the worst’ during 2026”—remains open-ended and contingent on ongoing enforcement operations.
Key dates and milestones documented include the December 30, 2025 release announcing the 2026 posture, the January 2, 2026 roll‑out of arrests of individuals convicted of grave crimes, and the January 5, 2026 follow-up noting further such arrests. These items establish a continuing trajectory rather than a concluded program.
source reliability: DHS.gov is the primary government outlet for ICE/National enforcement updates, and the linked pages provide concrete arrest examples and official statements; independent verification of broader impact metrics would strengthen assessment.
Overall, the status as of early 2026 is that the policy emphasis described in the claim is actively ongoing, with multiple high‑severity arrests reported. Given the absence of a defined completion date, the situation aligns with an ongoing initiative rather than a completed milestone as of 2026-02-06.
Update · Feb 07, 2026, 12:56 AMin_progress
Restating the claim: The DHS/ICE statement for 2026 emphasizes pursuing “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, signaling ongoing enforcement priority rather than a one-off milestone. This framing indicates an open-ended objective for the year. The claim is anchored in policy language rather than a fixed target or deadline.
Evidence of progress: ICE issued updates in early January 2026 highlighting arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and murder. These releases show continued operational activity and a sustained emphasis on high-severity cases. Additional DHS/ICE communications in January 2026 corroborate ongoing enforcement actions.
Status of completion: No numeric target, end-date, or completion metric has been disclosed. The absence of a defined finish condition means the claim remains in progress, with activity evaluated on an ongoing basis through arrests and removals reported by the agency. The available official materials point to persistent enforcement rather than a concluded program.
Reliability and context: Primary sourcing consists of official DHS/ICE press releases, which directly reflect agency policy and actions. Independent fact-checkers have scrutinized arrest counts and framing, but there is no external verification of a terminal milestone. The claim should be interpreted as an ongoing enforcement objective with yearly progress contingent on agency reporting.
Note on incentives: The enforcement framing aligns with DHS/ICE incentives to emphasize removals of high-severity offenders. Without a numeric target, progress is measured by reported arrests and removals and media uptake of these narratives; continued monitoring of agency reports is needed to assess changes in scope or intensity.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 10:43 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst.” The source framing tied this to a New Year start for 2026 and explicit targeting of high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: An official DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports ICE began 2026 with continued removal efforts and cites specific arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud). The release presents a concrete set of cases and notes ongoing removals through New Year’s Eve/Day, indicating continued activity at the outset of 2026.
Status assessment: Because the original claim lacks a defined completion metric or deadline beyond “in 2026,” and ICE has publicly announced and executed arrests early in 2026, the claim is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed. The designated milestones (individual arrests on specific dates) demonstrate progress but do not establish a final end-state.
Source reliability note: The principal sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which provide primary information about policy emphasis and operational activity. While DHS framing may reflect agency incentives, the reported arrests are verifiable in the agency’s press materials and do not rely on secondary interpretations. Additional independent verification (e.g., corroborating reporting) could further contextualize broader impact in 2026.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 08:57 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public DHS communications in early 2026 explicitly frame ICE activity around arrests of high-risk offenders, reinforcing the stated objective for the year. As of February 6, 2026, there is no published completion date or metric indicating a final tally; the policy note remains a stated ongoing goal rather than a completed program.
Evidence of progress includes multiple ICE announcements in January 2026 describing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, such as homicide, sexual offenses against children, aggravated assault, and human trafficking, across various jurisdictions. For example, DHS published items on January 2, January 5, January 7, and January 16 describing ongoing 'worst of the worst' arrests. These reports collectively indicate continued enforcement activity rather than a concluded milestone.
There is no indication from DHS that the initiative has ended or that a final number or deadline has been reached; the statements depict a continuing effort throughout January with additional arrests announced in subsequent days. The absence of a completion date in the DHS releases further supports that the program is operating in-progress. The reliability of these updates is strengthened by their origin in official DHS/ICE press material.
Notable concrete milestones cited in the January 2026 DHS releases include arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, kidnapping, and human trafficking, among other offenses, highlighting the scope of the claim in practice. The recurring framing of the effort as part of a
New Year’s push and the emphasis on 'the worst of the worst' arrests provides consistency across DHS communications, though it remains a qualitative description rather than a standardized metric. Overall, the available records show active enforcement activity without a defined end point as of early February 2026.
Source reliability is high, as the material comes from official DHS/ICE channels and is corroborated by multiple DHS press items in January 2026. Skepticism is warranted for any claim that emphasizes sensational framing without objective, independent metrics; however, the repeated, named offenses in the releases support the stated focus. In balance, the evidence supports an ongoing, policy-driven enforcement emphasis rather than a completed project by early 2026.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 06:58 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified effort to remove criminal illegal aliens deemed among the most dangerous.
Evidence of progress: DHS ICE message pages published January 2 and January 5, 2026 announce intensified arrests early in the year, highlighting individuals convicted of severe offenses such as homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and other violent crimes. The January 2 release explicitly describes arrests of multiple individuals convicted of serious crimes, marking a clear start to the stated objective. The January 5 release doubles down on manpower and ongoing enforcement activity (noting new officers and ongoing arrests).
Current status of the promise: As of February 6, 2026, ICE appears to be actively carrying out the intensified enforcement push described in the 2026 statements, with ongoing arrests reported in the first days of the year. There is no completed end-state or benchmark reported; the completion condition remains inherently open-ended (ongoing arrests during 2026) and thus not yet fulfilled.
Dates and milestones: The key milestones are the New Year 2026 announcements (Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026) and the arrest reports that followed over the January period. The DHS pages frame the effort as a continuing operation with a strengthened manpower footprint (claims of 12,000 new officers and agents in the Jan 5 release). Concrete arrest disclosures are episodic (e.g., specific individuals named in early January), but no final tally or end date is provided.
Source reliability and bias note: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which reliably document the agency’s stated policy and actions. While the releases are framed to emphasize effectiveness and safety, they reflect the agency’s incentives to demonstrate enforcement gains. Independent verification of total arrests, recidivism outcomes, or legal results should be consulted for a balanced assessment (e.g., independent analyses or court records).
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 04:22 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the prior year’s framing of arrests targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: DHS ICE publicly announced in a January 5, 2026 release that the agency was launching into the new year with more arrests of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, and rape, and it touted a large staffing increase (over 12,000 new officers and agents) to support this effort. The release also described weekend arrests of individuals with serious criminal histories and directed the public to a dedicated webpage aggregating such cases (wow.dhs.gov) for ongoing updates. This establishes active implementation at the start of 2026 (DHS, 2026-01-05).
Status against completion: There is no specific numeric target or end date provided, nor a final completion criterion. Based on the absence of a defined deadline and the ongoing nature of enforcement actions described in the January release, the status is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed. The public announcements indicate continued enforcement activity rather than a concluded milestone.
Context on reliability: The sources are official DHS/ICE press materials and the WOW webpage linked by DHS. While the framing is policy-principle oriented and emphasizes emphasis on “worst of the worst,” the sources are primary agency statements and thus directly reflect the government’s stated approach and activities. Cross-checking with independent or non-government outlets would be needed to gauge independent impact assessments, but the core claims here rest on DHS communications (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Notes on incentives: The DHS/ICE messaging aligns with political and administrative incentives to demonstrate tough enforcement and high-profile removals. The announced manpower expansion underpins the incentive to frame increased arrests as progress toward policy objectives, which should be considered when evaluating reported milestones and impact (DHS, 2026-01-05).
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 02:25 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, i.e., increasing arrests of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Official DHS/ICE communications in early 2026 indicate ongoing efforts aligned with that pledge, with multiple press releases announcing arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst (e.g., those convicted of murder, child rape, aggravated sexual assault, and other serious crimes). These posts establish an explicit intent to continue arrests throughout 2026 rather than a completed milestone.
Progress evidence includes ICE’s January 2, 2026 announcement of continued arrests as the new year began, and a January 5, 2026 post reiterating the mission to arrest more of the worst offenders. A January 10, 2026 ICE release details dozens of arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of severe crimes, demonstrating material recruitment of cases under the stated policy direction. Taken together, these releases show concrete actions underway but do not specify a final completion condition or end date.
There is no completion date provided in the source material, and the objective appears ongoing rather than finished. The posted materials describe serial arrests within multiple weeks in January 2026, suggesting continued operations through the year, but there is no publicly stated metric, cap, or deadline to mark formal completion. As a result, the claim remains in progress.
Reliability note: the sources are official DHS/ICE press releases and statements, which are primary materials for this claim. While the framing is favorable to ICE’s operational narrative and may reflect the agency’s incentives to publicize aggressive enforcement, the releases do document specific arrests and ongoing operations. Cross-checks with independent outlets show consistent reporting of these ICE actions, though interpretations vary by outlet.
Overall assessment: the claim is best categorized as in_progress given ongoing, dated actions in early 2026 and lack of a defined completion condition or end date. The pattern of arrests appears to be continuing through the period, but a final completion cannot be confirmed from available sources.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 12:36 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The claim states that DHS/ICE intends to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. This maps to ICE public messaging about prioritizing arrests and removals of violent or high-risk offenders branded as the 'worst of the worst.'
Evidence of progress: ICE issued multiple public updates in early January 2026 highlighting arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of serious offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, and fraud, as part of its ongoing effort to remove high-risk individuals (e.g., DHS Jan 2, 2026; DHS Jan 5, 2026).
Further milestones and activity: Subsequent DHS/ICE releases through January 2026 continued to frame arrests around violent crime and child offenses, illustrating sustained activity into the first month of the year (e.g., DHS Jan 27, 2026; ICE Jan 10, 2026). These updates indicate ongoing operations rather than a finalized, complete action.
Status assessment: There is no published end-date or completion condition for 2026 in the agency releases. Therefore, the claim is best described as in_progress, with continued arrests referenced but no formal completion date.
Reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which provide contemporaneous summaries of arrests and removals. While these materials emphasize public safety and operational success, they reflect the agency’s perspective and framing of events; independent corroboration (e.g., court filings, independent audits) would strengthen assessment.
Follow-up: A targeted update on ICE arrest activity and any formal policy shifts should be reviewed after a sustained period (e.g., late February 2026) to determine whether the tempo or scope of arrests under the 'worst of the worst' framing persists or expands.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 11:11 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, signaling intensified removal of dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 releases describing arrests of individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, rape, kidnapping, and other serious crimes as part of the ongoing effort. Reliability note: these updates come from official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary sources for enforcement activity and policy framing. In terms of milestones, the agencies highlighted initial arrests around New Year’s Eve/Day and a subsequent weekend, indicating the campaign is active early in 2026.
What progress exists beyond announcements: The January 2 release lists specific cases and locations as part of the first enforcement wave, while the January 5 release reiterates ongoing arrests and expands the roster of crimes cited, suggesting sustained activity through early January 2026. Taken together, these items show an operational start and continued emphasis on high-risk targets.
Completion status and milestones: There is no published completion date or explicit end-state metric for the initiative. The available reporting frames the effort as an ongoing campaign within 2026, with multiple arrests reported but no final milestone or closure date.
Notes on sources and reliability: The materials are official DHS/ICE communications, which reliably reflect agency posture and actions but do not include independent verification of each arrest beyond the agency’s reports. For fuller context, independent data analyses of ICE arrests could be consulted separately.
Bottom line and incentives: The claim appears active, with early-2026 DHS/ICE communications indicating continued enforcement against identified targets. The messaging aligns with enforcement priorities and political signaling about public safety outcomes. Ongoing updates will clarify whether additional milestones or a defined end-state emerge.
Follow-up note: A mid-year check-in would help confirm progression toward any new milestones or end-state. Follow up target date: 2026-06-01.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 08:59 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, including child rapists and other violent offenders (DHS press release, 2025-12-30).
Evidence of initial progress: In early 2026, DHS/ICE reiterated the policy stance with a press release emphasizing continued arrests of individuals deemed among the “worst of the worst,” referencing a substantial manpower increase and a focus on high-severity cases (DHS press release, 2026-01-05).
Specific milestones reported: The January 5 release enumerates weekend arrests of individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, rape, and related offenses, illustrating ongoing enforcement under the stated criteria. This indicates operational activity aligning with the stated objective so far in 2026.
Assessment of completion status: There is no final annual tally available in these early releases to confirm completion or a full-year outcome. The claim remains in progress as cautionary data for the first weeks of 2026 show continued enforcement but not a complete year-end result.
Source reliability and limitations: The information comes from official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary sources for enforcement policy and messaging. Independent verification of totals would require comprehensive 2026 arrest/removal data and a formal completion assessment.
Incentives context: The messaging aligns with public-safety framing and a larger manpower roll-out intended to sustain higher arrest/removal activity, reflecting policy incentives to project assertive enforcement during 2026.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 04:26 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly pled 2026 as a year for “more worst of the worst arrests,” with no numeric metric or deadline beyond the year. The completion condition is for ICE to conduct additional arrests of those labeled as the “worst of the worst” in 2026, without a specified end date. (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02; DHS.gov, 2026-01-05)
Progress evidence: ICE announced the January 2, 2026 ring-in of the year with arrests of individuals convicted of crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. A January 5, 2026 DHS post reiterates continued arrests of the “worst of the worst” into 2026 and notes a manpower expansion. (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02; DHS.gov, 2026-01-05)
Current status as of 2026-02-05: There is no formal completion date; enforcement activity is ongoing with multiple early-January arrests and continuing DHS messaging, but no end-date or final tally has been published. The available sources show progress and rhetoric rather than a completed milestone. (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02; DHS.gov, 2026-01-05)
Reliability and incentives: The information comes from official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary sources for enforcement activity. While the updates emphasize public safety and policy priorities (e.g., expanded manpower), they may reflect political framing typical of government enforcement announcements. Cross-checks with independent outlets vary in depth and often rely on DHS for core facts. (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02; DHS.gov, 2026-01-05; 2025-12-30 page as context)
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 02:38 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE aimed for ‘more worst of the worst arrests’ in 2026. The primary official signal comes from ICE/DHS announcing the start of 2026 with continued removals targeting the so-called worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, indicating an ongoing enforcement objective rather than a completed action. Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms initial arrests early in the year for offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, demonstrating concrete milestones. Current status: As of early February 2026, ICE publicly continued to report additional arrests under the same framing, suggesting the initiative is active but without a published end date. Reliability and incentives: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE source, a high-quality primary source; the language reflects enforcement priorities without presenting a formal completion metric, making ongoing updates essential to assess progress.
Update · Feb 06, 2026, 12:53 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more “worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling intensified enforcement against high-risk criminal illegal aliens. Evidence from official DHS/ICE communications in early 2026 shows the agency publicly announcing intensified arrest efforts and a push to remove violent and repeat offenders, framed as a continuation of a previous aggressive stance. Notably, press releases dated January 2 and January 5, 2026, emphasize arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, alongside a stated expansion in manpower to support these efforts. This establishes a clear intent and initial progress toward the stated objective for 2026.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 10:39 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” implying an ongoing push to target and arrest high-risk criminal illegal aliens. The article cluster indicates a continuation into 2026 with explicit announcements of intensified arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued multiple public updates in early January 2026 highlighting continued arrests targeting individuals classified as the “worst of the worst,” including those with convictions for homicide, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, rape, and related offenses. The agency framed these updates as part of a manpower expansion (cited as more than 12,000 new officers and agents) and a restart of intensified enforcement activity.
Completion status: There is no publicly stated completion date or finish condition. The press releases describe ongoing operations at the start of 2026 and do not indicate a final milestone or wrap-up of these arrests. Given the absence of a defined end date, the status remains in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 summary of 2025 activity and the January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 releases announcing new arrests and the manpower expansion. These pieces position the effort as an ongoing policy stance rather than a completed program.
Source reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary but reflect the agency’s messaging and policy incentives. Independent verification of arrest counts and longer-term outcomes would require corroboration from third-party data portals or watchdog analyses. The materials emphasize enforcement intensity rather than a quantified success metric, so interpretation should consider potential political and administrative incentives behind aggressive rhetoric.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 08:44 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public DHS/ICE releases confirm that ICE began 2026 with renewed emphasis on arresting the so‑called worst of the worst, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, rape, and other serious crimes (DHS/ICE press releases, Jan 2, 2026).
Subsequent DHS releases reinforce ongoing momentum, describing continued arrests of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst and noting actions tied to enhanced manpower and operational initiatives (DHS/ICE press releases, Jan 5, 2026; ICE arrest announcements, Jan 10, 2026).
By mid‑January 2026, ICE reported continued operations across multiple states, including large‑scale enforcement efforts consistent with the objective to pursue serious criminal illegal aliens (DHS/ICE press releases, Jan 10–19, 2026).
Overall, official sources show active enforcement activity in 2026 aligned with the stated objective. No formal completion date is provided, and milestones are being announced rather than declaring completion, indicating the initiative remains in progress as of the latest updates (through January 2026). The reliability of the sources is high given official DHS/ICE provenance, though the messaging reflects law‑enforcement framing and campaign‑style rhetoric.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 07:01 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens. Official framing in January 2026 portrayed an intensified effort with a staffing boost and ongoing arrests rather than a discrete end date.
Evidence of progress appears in DHS/ICE press releases dated Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026, describing arrests of individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated stalking, rape, and other serious offenses, alongside a reported expansion of personnel (over 12,000 new officers/agents). These materials indicate activity and resource ramp-up but do not establish a completion metric.
As of Feb 5, 2026, there is no published completion milestone or end date for the initiative. The messaging emphasizes ongoing enforcement rather than a finished, verifiable milestone, aligning with an ongoing enforcement program.
The reliability of the sources is high for official policy communications but may reflect agency incentives and framing. Independent corroboration or transparent, post-hoc data on arrests and outcomes would strengthen verification of progress beyond DHS/ICE statements.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 04:26 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more “worst of the worst” arrests in 2026, framing it as an intensified enforcement push. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that it would expand arrests of high-priority offenders and that a manpower increase would bolster enforcement. Specific early milestones include arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, reported in DHS press releases on January 2 and January 5, 2026. Reliability note: DHS press releases are official sources for enforcement actions; independent verification could supplement contextual assessment, but the primary evidence shows initial execution of the stated aim.
Status assessment: While initial arrests demonstrate momentum, there is no defined completion metric or deadline published for 2026, and the year is ongoing. Therefore the claim remains in_progress rather than complete or failed. A final assessment would require total yearly arrest counts and outcome analyses once the year concludes.
Context on sources and reliability: The material relies on DHS/ICE primary communications; these provide direct statements of policy and actions, but they represent the agency’s framing of the program. For a fuller picture, corroboration from independent outlets or oversight analyses would help gauge scope and community impact.
Follow-up plan: Monitor ICE’s year-end totals and any policy updates or staffing changes throughout 2026, with a follow-up due after the year closes. Suggested follow-up date: 2026-12-31.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 02:21 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing a messaging emphasis from late 2025 that targets criminal illegal aliens perceived as the highest-risk offenders.
Evidence of progress: DHS press releases in January 2026 announced continued enforcement activity under the same framing, with ICE reporting arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of
New Year enforcement efforts (Jan 2, 2026). A subsequent DHS release on Feb 3, 2026 highlighted additional arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including kidnappers and other serious criminals (Feb 3, 2026; updated Feb 4, 2026). These releases show ongoing operational activity aligned with the stated aim.
Current completion status: There is no formal completion date or metric published for the promise. By early February 2026, ICE appears to have maintained an active enforcement push consistent with the pledge, but no end date or quantitative target has been disclosed, leaving the promise clearly in_progress rather than complete.
Key milestones and dates: Jan 2, 2026: initial 2026 “worst of the worst” arrests announced (New Year enforcement push). Feb 3–4, 2026: continued reporting of high-severity arrests (kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, drug trafficking, fraud). These milestone releases indicate patterning and repetition rather than a final, completed set of arrests.
Source reliability and context: The announcements come from DHS/ICE official pages, which are primary sources for this claim. While the agency emphasizes the severity of cases and public safety messaging, independent verification of a comprehensive metrics framework or end state is lacking in public DHS communications. Independent outlets have scrutinized “Worst of the Worst” claims, but the core facts cited here come from official DHS releases.
Incentives and policy context: The continued emphasis on high-severity arrests aligns with political and administrative incentives to project toughness on immigration enforcement. Publicly highlighted metrics and “Worst of the Worst” branding shape public expectations and support for ongoing staffing and resource allocation, potentially influencing policy emphasis and budget priorities moving forward.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 12:53 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE aimed to conduct additional arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens in 2026, building on a 2025 year-end message. Evidence so far shows official DHS/ICE statements announcing ongoing arrests at the start of 2026, framed as continuing the 'worst of the worst' initiative (Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026 DHS/ICE press releases). No published completion metric or deadline is provided, and the records indicate ongoing operations rather than a finalized end-state. The articles describe specific individuals arrested in the first days of 2026 and cite a policy stance and staffing expansions, but do not present a quantified milestone or closure date.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 11:09 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests.' Evidence shows ongoing arrests at the start of 2026, including a Jan 2 DHS press release announcing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, and a Jan 10 ICE release detailing dozens of arrests in
Minnesota of violent offenders. The completion condition remains undefined (no metric or deadline), and as of 2026-02-05 the pace of actions appears ongoing but not completed. Reliability is high for official DHS/ICE statements, though independent reporting varies in emphasis and framing.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 08:45 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to execute “more worst of the worst arrests,” indicating an intensified focus on arrests of high-priority criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued official press releases in early January 2026 detailing arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes, signaling an ongoing deployment of resources toward the stated objective. Additional releases describe continued enforcement activity and personnel increases, framing these actions as a
New Year push to remove dangerous offenders. Reliability of sources: The information comes from DHS/ICE official press releases, which reliably reflect agency policy emphasis and operations, though they present the information with a political framing consistent with administration priorities.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 04:36 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article asserts that DHS/ICE aims to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' in 2026, effectively promising an ongoing or expanded program beyond 2025.
Evidence of progress: Publicly verifiable evidence of concrete progress or official policy milestones for 2026 is limited. A DHS press item circulating around year-end 2025 quotes the phrase, but independent verification of sustained, quantifiable actions or formal policy updates for 2026 remains sparse.
Assessment of reliability and context: A FactCheck.org analysis (Jan 2026) questions the substantiation of ongoing ‘worst of the worst’ targeting and notes data limitations and shifting interpretations of what constitutes a “worst of the worst” arrest. That reporting indicates a lack of transparent, independently verifiable metrics to confirm a formal continuation or expansion.
Milestones and dates: No clear, publicly documented completion date or metric for 2026 is available from high-quality sources. The only explicit element is a retrospective year-end claim from late 2025; no confirmed post-December 2025 completion criteria have been published by DHS/ICE as of early February 2026.
Source reliability note: The DHS.gov post seen in December 2025 appears to be under scrutiny for authenticity and context, and reputable outlets have raised questions about its claims. Given the absence of corroborating official policy documents or independent data releases, interpretation should remain cautious.
Follow-up: A targeted update should be pursued after DHS/ICE releases any new operational or policy guidance for 2026, or after independent data projects publish new ICE arrest statistics for early 2026.
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 03:02 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence to date shows the agency publicly announcing a continued push into 2026 with high-profile arrests. On January 2, 2026, ICE released a formal update detailing arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes, framing them as part of a broader effort to remove the 'worst of the worst' from communities, with a follow-up on January 5, 2026 reinforcing the ongoing focus (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Update · Feb 05, 2026, 01:18 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE aimed to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests in 2026.
Progress evidence: A January 5, 2026 DHS press release announced an intensified program, citing a large manpower increase and new arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including murderers, gang members, and rapists.
Current status: Public reports show ongoing enforcement actions framed as “Worst of the Worst” arrests in early 2026, but there is no published completion date or explicit completion metric.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone is the January 5, 2026 DHS release; subsequent DHS pages and coverage reference continued arrests but without a formal 2026 endpoint.
Reliability and context: DHS/ICE is the primary source for the policy framing, while independent outlets (e.g., FactCheck.org) question the data transparency and the underlying definitions of “worst of the worst.” Caution is warranted in interpreting the scope without full data access.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 10:57 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, stating a
New Year’s resolution to intensify arrests.
Evidence of progress exists: A January 5, 2026 DHS release highlights ICE arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, with emphasized serious crimes and a claimed manpower increase supporting ongoing enforcement.
Current status: No fixed completion date or metric is published; the pledge remains ongoing, with DHS framing ongoing arrests rather than a completed milestone.
Reliability and context: DHS.gov is an official source; however, the framing uses politicalized language and a high-visibility enforcement posture. Independent verification of quantified outcomes beyond DHS releases is not evident in the sources reviewed.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 08:34 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim is that in 2026 they would conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” expanding enforcement against criminal illegal aliens identified as the highest-priority targets. The source language frames this as a renewal of aggressive enforcement for 2026, with emphasis on high-severity offenders. The phrasing mirrors a DHS press posture rather than a neutral forecast, but it sets a clear goal of intensified arrests of the worst offenders.
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 announces a campaign described as “
New Year, Same Mission: ICE Arrests More Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens,” citing a large manpower increase (over 12,000 new officers and agents) and listing weekend arrests of individuals with homicide, stalking, rape, and gang affiliations. This demonstrates initiation of intensified enforcement for 2026 and provides concrete examples of arrests framed as “worst of the worst.”
Completion status: As of early February 2026, there is no publicly available completion milestone or end date in DHS communications for this initiative; arrests and operations appear ongoing. The completion condition in the original claim—“additional arrests … in 2026”—remains in-progress rather than completed, given there is no fixed endpoint disclosed. Independent analyses note shifting arrest patterns, but these do not contradict that activity is continuing through 2026.
Milestones and dates: The January 5, 2026 DHS release is the primary milestone signaling the program’s launch for the year, with subsequent ICE releases and press statements (e.g., January 10, 2026) documenting ongoing operations. The statement that there is a 120% manpower increase and the specific list of individuals arrested over that weekend provide concrete, date-bound milestones indicating early-stage progress. Further milestones would be required to assess full year achievement.
Reliability and incentives note: The primary sources are DHS/ICE official communications, which carry policy and political incentives to portray strengthened enforcement. External outlets rapidly summarized or critiqued enforcement patterns, but a direct, verifiable record of ongoing arrests from ICE confirms activity. Given the public incentives to emphasize “worst of the worst” offenses, independent verification from multiple, non-partisan sources (e.g., court records, arrest data) would strengthen assessment.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 07:09 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE promised in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests.” The official framing positions these arrests as prioritizing the removal of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with new arrests targeting individuals convicted of severe crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, on January 2, 2026 (DHS press release). A related DHS release on December 30, 2025 framed 2026 as continuing the prior year’s focus on high-priority cases and highlighted examples from late December 2025.
Current status and milestones: The 2026 effort is clearly underway, with at least an initial batch of “worst of the worst” arrests reported at the start of the year. No final completion date is provided, and additional arrests or removals would likely be reported incrementally throughout 2026 if the policy emphasis continues.
Source reliability and caveats: The dominant source is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/ICE press material, which directly reflects the agency’s stated policy and actions. While this confirms ongoing activity, it does not provide independent verification of the broader impact or a comprehensive year-long tally. Fact-based coverage from independent outlets may offer supplementary context if available.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 04:21 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens, continuing enforcement posture from the prior year. The phrase framed 2026 as a year of intensified enforcement against individuals described as the 'worst of the worst.'
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 announces that ICE would launch into the new year with more arrests of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, and notes a substantial manpower increase (over 12,000 new officers and agents) to enable expanded operations. It also lists examples of individuals arrested over the preceding weekend, including homicide, stalking, rape, and related offenses.
Current status: The January 2026 communication shows an active start to the goal, with explicit mention of increased arrests and new personnel. There is no publicly stated completion date or metric to close the initiative, so as of 2026-02-04 the effort appears ongoing rather than completed or canceled. Limited independent verification beyond DHS messaging exists in the public record.
Reliability and incentives: The information primarily stems from official DHS/ICE statements, which reflect enforcement-promotional incentives. Corroborating independent data (e.g., court or ICE custody statistics) would strengthen verification, but such data are not clearly available in the material reviewed.
Notes on sources: The primary source is the DHS/ICE January 5, 2026 press release. Additional context comes from the December 2025 DHS/ICE coverage indicating a continuation of the enforcement posture. Both sources are official government materials.
Overall assessment: The claim is currently in_progress, with initial steps taken and resources allocated, but no documented completion date or definitive end point is evident in the public record.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 02:21 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens. The pledge explicitly framed the goal as increasing arrests of high-severity cases in 2026, without a published quantitative target or deadline. The stated completion condition, therefore, is not a fixed metric but an ongoing annual objective rather than a traditional milestone.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announced ICE’s initial 2026 arrests, highlighting convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud among individuals described as the “worst of the worst.” The press release frames these early actions as part of a continuing effort into 2026, aligning with the prior year’s rhetoric (DHS press release, 01/02/2026). A December 30, 2025 DHS page also framed the 2026 pledge as a
New Year’s resolution, indicating preparation for ongoing enforcement activity (DHS press release, 12/30/2025).
Current status as of 2026-02-04: ICE appears to be actively pursuing the announced policy, with at least a handful of high-severity arrests reported at the start of the year. There is no indication of a formal completion date or end to the initiative; the policy remains framed as ongoing enforcement for 2026. As such, the status remains best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed (DHS press releases, 01/02/2026; 12/30/2025).
Dates and milestones: The first concrete milestone is the January 2, 2026 announcement of the new year’s arrests targeting individuals convicted of severe crimes, followed by listing specific cases across multiple states. The absence of a fixed endpoint or metric means milestones are event-driven (arrests, removals) rather than date-driven.
Source reliability and limits: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases and DHS site pages, which are official government communications and suitable for tracking policy shifts. These sources describe enforcement actions and the framing of goals but do not provide independent verification of long-term impact or outcomes beyond the named arrests. Readers should consider potential incentives in policing and immigration policy when interpreting rhetoric and reported results (official DHS/ICE pages, 12/30/2025; 01/02/2026).
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 12:41 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release from ICE explicitly framed the year start as continuing progress in removing high-risk individuals, listing multiple arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of the effort.
Evidence of progress: The DHS release documents concrete arrests carried out on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, including individuals from multiple countries and with serious criminal histories. The release names several individuals and crimes, illustrating an active enforcement push at the outset of 2026.
Status of completion: The completion condition—conducting additional arrests of individuals characterized as the 'worst of the worst' during 2026—remains ongoing, with early-year actions indicating continued enforcement. No endpoint or metric was specified, and no final tally has been reported to indicate a completed program; further updates would be expected as 2026 progresses.
Reliability and context: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which confirms the stated intention and initial actions. While the language is framed around urgency and safety, reporting on arrests should be interpreted in light of enforcement priorities and potential incentives from law enforcement policy. Cross-checks with subsequent ICE releases would help gauge year-long progress and any shifts in scope.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 08:50 AMin_progress
The claim states DHS/ICE aimed to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public DHS/ICE statements in January 2026 indicate an explicit push to commence and scale such arrests, signaling continued enforcement. The announcements describe ongoing operations and list multiple high-severity cases targeted in the early days of 2026. There is no published completion metric or deadline attached to this aim yet.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 04:44 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim is that in 2026 they would carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing enforcement against individuals characterized as the most serious criminal illegal aliens. The article framing this as a
New Year’s resolution suggests an ongoing, year-long initiative rather than a one-off action. The claim hinges on ICE expanding arrests of individuals with severe criminal histories during 2026.
Evidence of progress: On January 2, 2026, DHS published a press release announcing that ICE began 2026 with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release details multiple specific cases and emphasizes continued enforcement activity around New Year’s, signaling momentum into 2026. The target audience is to view this as ongoing enforcement rather than a completed milestone.
Current status and milestones: The January 2026 DHS release marks the first publicly documented tranche of arrests under the stated initiative. There is no single completion date or metric provided, consistent with the assessment that the program is ongoing throughout 2026. Additional arrests and case details would be needed to determine whether the initiative achieves broader thresholds or declines in intensity over time.
Source reliability and interpretation: The primary source is an official DHS press release dated January 2, 2026, which is a high-quality primary source for government actions. Secondary reporting on the same period (e.g., other outlets) is more variable in framing and may reflect partisan or editorial slants; the DHS release itself provides the concrete events and stated intent. Given the lack of a defined completion metric, interpretation should treat progress as ongoing and contingent on future enforcement actions through the year.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 03:33 AMin_progress
What the claim stated: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens. This frames the intent as a continued or expanding focus on high-severity cases during the year. In progress evidence: a DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports ICE beginning the year with arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of removing 'the worst of the worst' from communities. The release lists multiple example cases and notes that these arrests occurred on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, signaling initial action at the start of 2026. Reliability: the primary evidence comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, which is the most direct source for ICE enforcement actions, though it reflects the agency’s framing and messaging for the period in question. Additional context from contemporaneous reporting (Axios coverage of arrest trends in late 2025) provides a broader sense of arrest pace but is not a substitute for ICE’s own statements. Overall, the claim has seen early, explicit execution in 2026, but there is no published completion metric or deadline, making assessment of final completion premature at this stage.
What progress looks like so far: ICE’s January 2, 2026 release confirms concrete arrests of named individuals and reiterates the broad policy aim of removing high-risk offenders. It does not specify a numeric target, cadence, or end date for the year, so while progress is visible, it remains incomplete by the claim’s own criteria. In terms of milestones, the January 2 announcement functions as the initial milestone (start of 2026) with documented arrests; there is no subsequent, confirmed end-state update available in the sources consulted.
Notes on reliability and incentives: as an official DHS/ICE statement, the release provides authoritative information on actions taken, but it frames them within a public relations narrative emphasizing public safety and safety of communities. Independent outlets and fact-check perspectives in late 2025–early 2026 discuss arrest rates and targeting patterns, which can help illuminate incentives and potential biases in enforcement reporting. The available material does not contradict the claim’s premise that ICE aimed to conduct more high-severity arrests in 2026, but it also does not establish a measurable, completed outcome.
Bottom line: the claim is best characterized as in_progress. ICE has initiated 2026 with arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst,' but no completion metric or end-date is provided, and ongoing reporting will be needed to determine whether the stated aim translates into sustained, year-long completion.
Follow-up note: monitor ICE/ DHS updates for further quarterly or monthly enforcement data through 2026 to assess whether the program maintains momentum and reaches any explicit milestones or metrics beyond the initial January 2026 disclosures.
Update · Feb 04, 2026, 01:47 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” with no specific metrics or deadlines. Current status: ICE issued January 2026 press releases announcing arrests targeting individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” indicating ongoing enforcement activity. Evidence of progress: DHS releases dated January 2 and January 5, 2026 enumerate specific arrests and frame the effort as ongoing, with references to additional personnel and continued operations. Completion status and reliability: There is no defined completion date; official materials describe an initial phase of the campaign, implying continuation beyond January 2026. Reliability note: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are authoritative for policy messaging and arrest announcements, though independent confirmation of each case would require court and ICE records.
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 11:45 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on high-severity criminal illegal immigrants, including child sexual assault perpetrators and murderers. Official DHS statements frame 2026 as a continuation and expansion of prior removals, driven by increased manpower and ongoing operations. The claim thus asserts an ongoing policy initiative rather than a one-time action with a defined completion date.
Evidence of progress (early 2026): DHS ICE rolled out public updates on January 2 and January 5, 2026 announcing sustained arrests of individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, and related offenses. The January 2 release highlighted new-year arrests following an increase in manpower, with multiple specific cases listed nationwide. The January 5 release repeated the theme, naming dozens of cases involving murders, rapists, and gang members, and framing the year as a continuation of aggressive enforcement.
Milestones and concrete details: The DHS releases enumerate individual arrestees by name, country of origin, and prior convictions (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, rape). They also emphasize manpower increases (e.g., new officers and agents) and describe weekend and holiday-period operations. The sources present day-by-day or weekend-specific tallies rather than a single, long-term target with a firm deadline.
Progress assessment: Because the agency has publicly characterized 2026 as an ongoing initiative with periodic high-profile arrests but no explicit completion criteria or deadline, the status remains, by design, open-ended. There is no published completion date or final milestone indicating a defined end to the program. The available statements suggest continued enforcement rather than a concluded campaign.
Reliability of sources: The evidence comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for agency policy and operations. While these releases provide verifiable counts and named cases, they reflect the agency’s framing and incentives to portray heightened enforcement. Independent analyses (when cited) should be consulted to assess broader trends and potential biases in arrest reporting.
Incentives and context: The agency emphasizes public safety and removal of offenders, supported by expanded manpower. However, the policy also aligns with political messaging around immigration enforcement and the administration’s stated priorities, which can influence how progress is framed and reported. Observers should consider incentives when interpreting reported arrest tallies and case selections.
Bottom line: As of 2026-02-03, ICE has initiated and publicly documented ongoing “worst of the worst” arrests with notable early-year activity and manpower expansion, but no formal completion date or end-state is defined. The status is best described as in_progress, with continued enforcement anticipated throughout 2026 based on official DHS communications.
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 08:23 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct ‘more worst of the worst arrests’ targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens, building on year-end 2025 messaging. The claim asserts there is no fixed metric or deadline, only an ongoing aim to increase such arrests during 2026. Publicly released statements frame this as a continuing enforcement priority rather than a completed program milestone.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests framed as targeting individuals convicted of serious crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 provides concrete examples of individuals arrested at the start of the year, indicating operational activity consistent with the stated aim. This demonstrates initial momentum but does not establish a final completion point.
What constitutes completion or failure: There is no explicit completion condition or deadline attached to the claim, and no subsequent DHS ICE statement declaring a completed program. Given the lack of a defined endpoint, the status is best characterized as ongoing enforcement activity that may fluctuate with resources and operational priorities. The presence of daily/ongoing arrests in early 2026 supports continued pursuit, but cannot confirm eventual completion as described.
Dates and milestones: The December 30, 2025 DHS release previewed a 2026 emphasis on the “worst of the worst” arrests, while the January 2, 2026 DHS release provides initial milestones (specific individuals arrested on New Year’s Eve/Day). These two DHS statements create a traceable cadence showing intent and early execution, yet no long-term milestone or target count is published. Reliability hinges on official DHS ICE communications; no independent corroboration is required for the stated aims, but independent data would help gauge scale.
Reliability and context: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are authoritative on stated enforcement priorities but may reflect agency incentives to emphasize crime-focused rhetoric. Independent analyses can provide context on how “worst of the worst” arrests are identified and how this affects overall enforcement trends. Taken together, the sources confirm ongoing 2026 activity aligned with the claim, but do not establish a finite completion date or measured outcome beyond initial arrests.
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 07:03 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE promise of 2026 featuring “more worst of the worst arrests” follows a 2025
New Year’s resolution to intensify removals of dangerous criminal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued early-2026 press releases highlighting arrests of individuals with convictions for homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, kidnapping, and related offenses, and noted a manpower expansion. Current status: The narrative remains ongoing with multiple January 2026 updates; no formal completion date or final metric is disclosed, indicating an active enforcement effort rather than a finished program. Reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which reliably reflect agency messaging and operational updates, though the framing emphasizes enforcement results as a public-safety narrative.
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 04:18 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE purportedly aimed to conduct more arrests of the so‑called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens in 2026, signaling a continued emphasis on high‑risk cases. The source framing presented this as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026. The policy stance is reflected in DHS/ICE communications describing ongoing enforcement against individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud). (DHS ICE press releases, Jan 2, 2026; Dec 30, 2025).
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests at the start of 2026, listing multiple individuals convicted of serious crimes, including child sexual offenses and murder, as part of its “worst of the worst” enforcement push. The Jan 2, 2026 DHS press release details arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day and characterizes the removals as part of the year’s ongoing effort. This establishes at least an initial milestone aligning with the stated objective. (DHS press release, Jan 2, 2026).
Current status of the promise: There is a stated ongoing enforcement trajectory for 2026, with no defined completion date. The December 2025 and January 2026 DHS releases frame the program as an ongoing effort rather than a one‑off event, implying continued operations through 2026, subject to law‑enforcement conditions and policy directions. Given the lack of a fixed metric or deadline, the claim remains in_progress as of early 2026. (DHS press releases, Dec 30, 2025; Jan 2, 2026).
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which provide authoritative statements on enforcement priorities but reflect the agency’s policy incentives and political framing. Coverage from non‑government outlets should be read for independent verification of the arrests, but the core milestones cited come from the agency itself. Overall, the public record shows an initial push in early 2026, with ongoing activity likely but not yet codified as a completion. (DHS press releases, Jan 2, 2026; Dec 30, 2025).
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 02:24 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst', signaling an intensified enforcement push for violent criminals. The rollout framed this as a new-year initiative with expanded manpower to target murderers, sex offenders, gang members, and similar high-risk offenders. A follow-on DHS release indicated ongoing weekend arrests under the same framing.
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 12:31 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to execute 'more worst of the worst arrests' of dangerous criminal migrants.
Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release announced multiple
New Year’s arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of ongoing enforcement efforts at the start of 2026. The release attributes these arrests to ICE’s ongoing operations over the holiday period and into the new year. Source: DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02.
Progress status: The announcements indicate continued enforcement activity consistent with the stated aim, but do not provide a comprehensive metric or deadline for the broader program, so the status remains ongoing (in_progress) rather than complete.
Key dates and milestones: The press release lists arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (late December 2025–early January 2026) and characterizes those individuals as priorities for removal. The public release date is 2026-01-02.
Source reliability and incentives: DHS/ICE is the primary source for this claim, reflecting the agency’s enforcement priorities. Given the self-reported nature of enforcement milestones, independent corroboration would further validate scale, but the official record supports ongoing activity aligned with the claim.
Follow-up note: If the program’s scope or cadence changes (e.g., annual milestones or quarterly targets), a targeted follow-up by late 2026 would clarify whether the 'more worst of the worst arrests' objective has been substantially fulfilled.
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 10:55 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE declared a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release announcing the start of 2026 with continued enforcement targeting individuals labeled as the worst of the worst, listing multiple arrests including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This indicates ongoing operations and a public commitment to increasing high-priority arrests in 2026.
Current status: As of early 2026, the agency has publicly reported specific arrests and operation counts tied to the “worst of the worst” framing, with no published completion date or end to the initiative. The stated completion condition remains the ongoing execution of arrests rather than a closed-end milestone.
Reliability and context: The primary source is DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect the agency’s official framing and incentives for enforcement. Independent reporting has scrutinized arrest counts and the interpretation of “worst of the worst,” but the core claim—ongoing 2026 arrests under this label—appears supported by the DHS communications.
Follow-up note: Monitoring subsequent ICE press releases through 2026 will clarify whether the pace or scope accelerates, holds steady, or is modified, and whether any formal milestones or metrics emerge.
Update · Feb 03, 2026, 10:07 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. This was framed as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 with a focus on removing individuals described as the “worst of the worst.”
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests targeting serious criminal aliens, including cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS press release, Jan 2, 2026). The press release lists multiple individuals and jurisdictions as part of New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day arrests, signaling initial implementation of the pledge.
Status of completion: There is no fixed completion date or metric provided; the project flag remains ongoing for the year 2026. The available official statement indicates continued operations rather than a completed, final tally. Thus, the claim is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Reliability and context: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press release, a direct government communication. Coverage from independent fact-checkers or media outlets corroborates the occurrence of early-2026 arrests but varies in framing and interpretation of the long-term scope. Fact-based reporting should monitor subsequent ICE disclosures for quarterly or annual tallies and any stated policy shifts.
Incentives note: The initiative aligns with ICE’s enforcement priorities and public safety messaging; incentives likely include demonstrating proactive enforcement and deterrence. As the year advances, policies and resource allocations will influence the pace and composition of arrests, but no external commitment or deadline beyond 2026 is stated in the source.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 10:29 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged to carry out more 'worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, signaling a continued aggressive enforcement push against criminal illegal aliens. Evidence to date shows ICE publicly announcing intensified operations at the start of 2026 and reporting specific arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes. DHS press releases describe a manpower expansion and a focus on violent and prioritized offenders, framing 2026 as a continuation of the prior administration's enforcement approach.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 08:21 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing a focus on arrests of criminal illegal aliens deemed to be among the most dangerous. The exact phrasing of the promise appears in a DHS press release dated December 30, 2025, which frames the 2026 goal as a continuation of aggressive enforcement against serious offenders.
Evidence of progress: The DHS statement framed the following year as active enforcement against high-risk individuals, and subsequent public reporting through early 2026 indicates that ICE conducted multiple high-profile arrests in various jurisdictions, targeting individuals with violent-crime convictions (e.g., rape, domestic violence, weaponized drug offenses) as highlighted in the December 2025 release and echoed in January 2026 coverage.
Current status and milestones: Reports in January 2026 indicate ongoing operations labeled as targeting the “worst of the worst,” with concrete arrests across states such as
Minnesota and
Maine and related media coverage describing arrests of individuals convicted of violent offenses and serious crimes. Local and AP-style reporting describes multiple arrests and subsequent legal actions, but these accounts also raise questions about the scope, transparency, and local impact of specific operations (e.g., mug shots, mug-shot materials, and detainee details).
Assessment of completion: There is evidence that ICE has continued high-profile arrests into January 2026, but there is no documented end-date or formal completion milestone. Given the absence of a defined finish line in the DHS materials and media reports, the status remains ongoing with continued enforcement rather than a concluded program year.
Source reliability and caveats: The primary claim originated from a DHS press release (December 30, 2025), which is an official source but contains policy framing that should be weighed against independent reporting. Independent outlets (AP-sourced pieces and local reports) corroborate that arrests occurred in early 2026, though turnout and full scope may vary by jurisdiction. When evaluating incentives, DHS framing emphasizes public safety and enforcement, while local officials sometimes question transparency and due-process implications.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 06:52 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests,” extending the prior year’s framing of targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 publicly frames ICE’s actions for 2026 as a continuation and expansion of the prior effort, citing a significant increase in manpower and detailing arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst (e.g., homicide, rape, gang involvement). The release highlights a weekend roundup and provides specific examples of individuals arrested in multiple states.
Status assessment: The public reporting indicates ICE initiated and continued arrests framed around the “worst of the worst” narrative in early January 2026, with the department signaling ongoing efforts. There is no published completion date or metric indicating the program’s end for 2026, so the initiative appears to be underway rather than concluded as of early February 2026.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone is the January 5, 2026 DHS release announcing the initiative and recounting weekend arrests, followed by ongoing enforcement actions described on public DHS channels. No final tally or end-date is provided, consistent with an ongoing program rather than a finite campaign.
Source reliability and notes: The main corroboration comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s official press material, which is a primary source for the claim. Independent outlets contextualize the policy shift, but the core claim rests on DHS communications. Given the incentives of the agency to portray enforcement intensity, findings should be weighed against potential selective framing in official materials, and cross-referenced with independent enforcement data when available.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 04:22 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE allegedly aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, effectively continuing a push to publicize arrests of individuals described as the most dangerous or highest-priority targets. The source framing from the DHS materials uses explicit language around ongoing arrests of “the worst of the worst.”
Evidence of progress: DHS press releases from January 2026 publicly announced ongoing and expanded enforcement efforts for 2026, including “more worst of the worst” arrests and a stated increase in manpower (the department cited over 12,000 new officers/agents). Example releases on January 2 and January 5, 2026 describe
New Year’s operations and arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes as part of the new year’s push. The department also maintains a public-facing WOW.DHS.GOV site aggregating cases under the “Worst of the Worst” banner.
Status regarding completion: There is no published completion date or benchmark indicating finalization of these arrests. The January 2026 DHS communications describe ongoing activities and weekend/holiday operations, with no end-date specified. Based on available DHS communications through early February 2026, the program appears to be active, with continued reporting of arrests rather than a completed or terminated initiative.
Reliability and context of sources: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases and the DHS
WOW site, which are authoritative for government communications on enforcement actions. Coverage from non-government outlets should be weighed for bias, but the core statements here come from DHS itself, including explicit quotes about increased manpower and ongoing arrests. Given the incentives of the issuing agency, readers should balance the portrayal of “worst of the worst” arrests with independent corroboration of crime contexts and legal outcomes where available.
Notes on incentives: The DHS/ICE framing emphasizes safety and removal of high-risk offenders, paired with a large manpower expansion. This creates a policy incentive to showcase aggressive enforcement, potentially influencing public perception and political support. The absence of a specific completion metric or deadline means progress is ongoing and incremental rather than endpoint-driven at this stage.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 02:21 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: A DHS/ICE communication purportedly promised in 2026 to conduct more arrests of the "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens, including child sex offenses, as a
New Year’s resolution.
Current evidence of progress: There is a DHS/ICE press-release style page dated December 30, 2025 that frames 2026 as a continuation and expansion of arrests targeting the so-called worst offenders, but there is no independently verifiable data on actual arrests or published metrics for 2026 progress as of February 2026. One contemporaneous DHS page describes prior arrests and frames the policy tone, yet does not provide concrete, department-wide progress indicators for 2026 beyond the stated policy aim.
Completion status: No public confirmation of completed or ongoing operational milestones for 2026 has been found. The December 2025 piece presents a governance/policy promise, not a documented project plan with dates, quotas, or milestones. Given the lack of corroborating tracking data or updates from multiple reputable outlets, the claim remains unverified and not proven completed.
Dates and milestones: The primary framing appears in a December 30, 2025 DHS/ICE piece referencing a 2026 objective; there are no published milestones, metrics, or deadlines as of early February 2026. If progress exists, it has not been publicly itemized or independently verified.
Source reliability and note on incentives: DHS.gov is an official government site, but the sensational framing of arrest rhetoric warrants caution and demands corroboration from multiple independent outlets. The lack of corroboration and the sensational phrasing raise questions about the formal policy posture versus political messaging. If this is connected to broader enforcement and recruitment efforts already underway (as suggested by related DHS recruitment material in mid-2025), the incentive structure would align with intensified enforcement rhetoric; however, concrete progress data remains absent in accessible sources.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 12:44 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the previous trend of prioritizing high-profile criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with ongoing arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, starting with a January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release detailing multiple arrests across states. Additional DHS posts in January 2026 reiterated this framing with weekly or near-weekly announcements highlighting offenders convicted of violent crimes and child offenses.
Current status: As of early February 2026, DHS/ICE continues to issue press releases under the same framing, indicating that the initiative is ongoing rather than completed, with no official completion date provided and no evidence of a wrap-up or milestone deadline.
Reliability note: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases and DHS official pages, which consistently frame arrests under the “worst of the worst” language. These communications reflect policy emphasis and publicity goals rather than independent verification of arrest outcomes or longer-term impact. The coverage aligns with the agency’s stated incentives to highlight high-profile removals.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 11:01 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on those characterized as the most dangerous or egregious offenders among illegal aliens. The source framing positions this as a New Year’s-oriented enforcement push with a continuing aim throughout 2026. The completion condition notes no specific metric or deadline, just that ICE conducts additional arrests of those labeled the “worst of the worst” during 2026.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year of continued removals of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens, and on January 2, 2026 ICE announced arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses across multiple jurisdictions. The release provides named individuals and jurisdictions as examples of ongoing enforcement actions at the start of 2026.
Current status: The public record shows enforcement actions occurring in early January 2026 that align with the stated aim, but there is no formal reported completion or summary of a final 2026 tally. Given the absence of a defined deadline or metric in the source material, the objective remains underway through 2026 unless a year-end report is published.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone cited is the January 2, 2026 ICE press release detailing arrests of specific individuals (including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud) as the year begins. This demonstrates movement toward the stated “more worst of the worst arrests” objective, but does not provide a final completion date.
Source reliability note: The principal evidence comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for enforcement announcements. While these releases portray progress in an enforcement direction, independent metrics or independent verification of the overall 2026 target are not provided in the cited materials.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 08:36 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens, framing it as a
New Year’s resolution for intensified enforcement with no specific metric or deadline beyond 2026. Evidence of progress: A January 5, 2026 DHS press release announces a year of intensified enforcement and cites a 120% increase in manpower, noting ongoing arrests of individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated stalking, rape, and other serious offenses. This indicates initial steps and public messaging toward the goal, but provides no cumulative tally or end date, leaving the status as ongoing. Current status: The claim remains in_progress as of early 2026, with public communications highlighting planned and underway arrests but without a conclusive completion or closure metric. Source reliability and incentives: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release and its public mirror; while authoritative for policy intent, independent corroboration would strengthen assessment and help mitigate potential messaging biases tied to enforcement incentives.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 04:05 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, as a
New Year’s resolution.
Evidence of progress: The only directly relevant official statement is a DHS press release dated December 30, 2025 announcing ICE’s arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst” and explicitly stating the 2026 resolution to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests.” There is no official metric, deadline, or milestones published for 2026 beyond that statement, so concrete progress cannot be measured from DHS alone as of February 1, 2026.
Status of completion: There is no documented completion or even a concrete progress milestone for 2026 in the available sources. Independent coverage in early 2026 notes a general uptick in ICE arrests in 2025, but does not provide verifiable evidence that 2026 has achieved or will achieve a defined level of “worst of the worst” arrests beyond the stated resolution. Consequently, the completion condition remains unverified and the status is best described as in_progress.
Evidence and dates: The core item is the DHS release dated 2025-12-30 characterizing a 2026 push; subsequent reporting (e.g., FactCheck.org in January 2026) discusses broader ICE enforcement trends and questions about definitions of “worst of the worst,” but does not confirm specific 2026 milestones. NPR and other outlets from 2025-2026 discuss detention trends and related concerns, but do not provide concrete compliance data for the 2026 pledge. These sources help contextualize incentives and enforcement dynamics but do not establish completion.
Source reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS press release, which is suitable for understanding government framing but should be cross-checked with independent analyses to assess real-world impact. FactCheck.org provides methodological scrutiny of “worst of the worst” claims and adds balance, while NPR reports on detention and enforcement context. Taken together, they support cautious interpretation rather than definitive progress claims.
Follow-up plan: Monitor ICE/DHS official releases and independent fact-checks through mid-2026 for any quantified 2026 milestones, rollouts, or completed instances of arrests labeled as “worst of the worst,” and any updates clarifying metrics or deadlines.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 01:59 AMin_progress
Restated claim and context: The article asserts DHS/ICE intends to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling a continued emphasis on high-profile criminal illegal alien removals. The completion condition is not a fixed metric, but the claim expects ongoing, intensified enforcement actions throughout 2026.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE published multiple press releases in early January 2026 announcing renewed enforcement efforts targeting individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, kidnapping, rape, and other serious crimes. The January 2, 2026 release highlights arrests across several states, while the January 5, 2026 release reiterates expanded manpower and ongoing roundups. These releases indicate active enforcement consistent with the claimed goal.
Assessment of completion status: Because the claim describes an ongoing strategic objective with no explicit metrics or deadlines, there is no evidence of a formal completion; rather, there is documented initiation and continued activity into early 2026. The sources do not provide a finalization point or end date, so the status remains in_progress as of 2026-02-01.
Reliability and incentives: The evidence comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for policy announcements and arrest tallies. While the releases reflect policy messaging and staffing claims, readers should contextualize incentives in the political and enforcement landscape as the department emphasizes “worst of the worst” removals.
Update · Feb 02, 2026, 12:12 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” continues to be the agency’s stated objective, implying an ongoing effort to arrest and remove individuals categorized as the most dangerous or egregiously criminal. Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces that ICE began the new year with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminals, listing several arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (e.g., individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud). This provides concrete, early-2026 activity supporting the stated aim. Current status and milestones: The December 30, 2025 update framed the same goal as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026, with a public roll‑out of specific cases the following days. The January 2, 2026 page then details arrests of multiple individuals across states, indicating ongoing operations and public reporting of cases, but without a defined completion metric or deadline. Taken together, the effort appears active but still open‑ended. Reliability and context: Both DHS press releases are official government communications, which strengthens credibility for reported arrests and intent. However, the releases emphasize high‑profile or sensational wording (“worst of the worst,” “pedophiles, murderers, and fraudsters”) and may reflect the administration’s framing to demonstrate enforcement priorities; independent data sources could provide a broader view of overall case loads and outcomes. Overall, the sources confirm ongoing activity but do not provide a fixed end date or comprehensive metrics for completion.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 10:03 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. This is a forward-looking objective announced by ICE and DHS, not a completed action.
Evidence of progress exists: on January 2, 2026, ICE released a formal update detailing arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst'—including cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with New Year’s Eve/Day arrests listed (press release: ICE Rings in 2026 with More Arrests of Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens). This establishes that ICE began implementing the stated objective at the start of 2026.
As of February 1, 2026, there is no completion date or final tally indicating that the goal has been completed or resolved; the completion condition in the original claim is simply ongoing arrests during 2026, with no metric or deadline provided. The January 2026 release confirms initial actions but does not establish a final outcome.
Concrete milestones cited include named individuals and jurisdictions in the January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release (e.g., cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child in
Texas, murder-related convictions in
Pennsylvania, and other offenses across multiple states). These imply continued enforcement activity rather than a completed program end date. The reliability of the reporting rests on the official DHS/ICE press release and corroborating coverage from reputable outlets that note ICE’s enforcement posture in early 2026.
Overall, the situation remains in_progress: ICE has publicly initiated the 2026 push with arrests described as 'the worst of the worst,' but a formal completion or endpoint for the year has not been established. Ongoing monitoring of ICE press releases and independent reporting will be needed to confirm continued pace and scope throughout 2026.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 08:02 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 focus on conducting more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, with no fixed completion date. Evidence indicates the program was publicly launched in early January 2026, accompanied by arrest reports highlighting individuals convicted of violent or serious offenses. Public DHS press releases dated January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 describe ongoing arrests framed as the 'worst of the worst' for the new year, but do not establish a defined end date or completion metrics. Based on available public statements, the initiative appears to be ongoing through 2026 with no reported closure date as of the current date.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 06:28 PMin_progress
Summary of the claim and current status: The claim states that DHS/ICE aimed to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. The January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release explicitly frames ongoing enforcement with that language in the early 2026 period.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 04:03 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public DHS communications in January 2026 reiterated this framing as a
New Year’s resolution and described ongoing and new arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' across multiple states. There is no documented completion date or final tally provided in these statements, only ongoing deployment of operations and press releases.
Evidence of progress consists of explicit January 2026 DHS/ICE press releases announcing arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst,' including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes. The January 2, 2026 release (ICE Rings in 2026) and the January 5, 2026 release (New Year’s same mission) together provide concrete examples of targeted arrests and named individuals.
Status assessment: these releases indicate continued activity into early 2026 with ongoing targets and public reporting, but there is no end date or definitive completion milestone stated. The framing remains a policy/incentive-based objective rather than a measurable, time-bound program, which is consistent with the lack of a clear completion condition in the original claim.
Dates and milestones: key dated items include the January 2, 2026 release detailing initial arrests and the January 5, 2026 release expanding on ongoing operations. The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which strengthens reliability for the stated activities, though they reflect a government narrative and selective disclosure of arrests.
Source reliability note: the information comes from DHS/ICE press releases, an official government channel. While this supports the claim of ongoing 'worst of the worst' arrests, it should be interpreted as operational framing and publicity rather than an independently audited program with external validation.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 02:06 PMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE intended to pursue 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, following a 2025 announcement. The December 30, 2025 DHS release states that as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026, ICE would conduct more of these arrests.
Evidence of progress shows a January 2, 2026 DHS release announcing arrests described as the 'worst of the worst,' including individuals convicted of serious crimes, indicating that the objective moved into action early in 2026.
There is no documented completion of a defined end state or metrics by year-end 2026 in the available records; the statement was framed as ongoing enforcement rather than a fixed milestone. The reliability rests on official DHS/ICE communications, which also frame the activity in a security and public safety context.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 12:21 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE publicly pledged in late 2025 that its 2026 focus would be to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, including child offenders. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly reaffirmed the stance at year’s start, announcing arrests in early January 2026 of individuals convicted of serious crimes as part of ongoing enforcement efforts. Additional confirmations show continued emphasis on targeting high-risk offenders, with agency framing these actions as a continuation of prior enforcement. Dates and milestones: pledge appeared in December 30, 2025 DHS release; January 2, 2026 DHS release highlighted new arrests under the same objective, indicating ongoing activity through early 2026. Source reliability: DHS official releases are primary sources for this claim; coverage is agency-focused and lacks independent metrics. Reliability caveats: the claim rests on internal framing rather than external verification of binding targets or comprehensive impact metrics.
Current status: The goal appears to be ongoing (not completed or canceled) given continued arrests and emphasis in early 2026, with no public completion date or endpoint announced. If frequent arrests continue through the year, a finalized completion tally could emerge by year-end.
Notable incentives: ICE’s enforcement priorities focus on violent and serious-crime offenders, which may shape yearly enforcement intensity and messaging. Future evaluation should require transparent metrics (totals, recidivism, community impact) to assess true progress beyond rhetoric.
Bottom line: The claim remains in_progress. Early-2026 DHS communications show continued action aligned with the objective, but no formal completion date or comprehensive outcome data are published as of now.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 10:57 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim that 2026 would feature "more worst of the worst arrests"—continuing ICE’s reported strategy of targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 explicitly describes ICE starting the new year with arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes, listing multiple cases (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and framing them as part of the continued push against the “worst of the worst.” This provides a concrete early-2026 milestone supporting the claim.
Status of completion: No formal completion or end-date is provided or implied; the policy appears to be ongoing enforcement activity through 2026. The available DHS material frames the 2026 effort as a continuing objective rather than a one-time operation, with new arrests described as they occur.
Dates and milestones: The decisive milestones visible so far include the December 2025 framing of
the New Year resolution and the January 2, 2026 announcement of initial arrests. The data show progress beginning at the start of 2026, with specific cases highlighted in the release.
Source reliability and balance: The primary sources are DHS official press releases, which are direct government communications. While other outlets may discuss broader policy implications, the core claim relies on DHS-origin material, which is appropriate for tracking official intentions and actions. When evaluating incentives, DHS framing emphasizes public safety and enforcement; independent corroboration from additional independent outlets can help cross-check stated arrests and the scope of operations.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 08:54 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing a pattern of high-profile enforcement against violent and other serious offenders.
Evidence of progress: DHS ICE published a January 2, 2026 release announcing the start of 2026 with continued removals of the so-called worst of the worst, including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Additional DHS posts in early January reiterated the same focus and highlighted multiple arrests nationwide involving offenses such as homicide, child sexual abuse, kidnapping, human trafficking, and other violent crimes. These posts collectively indicate ongoing enforcement activity in the first weeks of 2026.
Evidence of completion status: There is no formal completion condition or deadline for “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. The available DHS releases describe ongoing operations rather than a final milestone. Based on the reporting, the objective appears to be an ongoing enforcement posture rather than a discrete completion event.
Dates and milestones: The published dates show a kickoff around January 2, 2026, with successive updates on January 5–7 detailing new arrests across multiple jurisdictions. The releases emphasize offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes, illustrating the claimed focus on the “worst of the worst” offenders.
Reliability note: These updates come from DHS/ICE and reflect the agency’s stated policy and operational posture. While the releases describe arrests and removals framed as protecting communities, independent verification would require cross-referencing court records and local law enforcement disclosures. The messaging should be interpreted in light of official incentives and enforcement framing.
Scheduled follow-up · Feb 01, 2026
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 03:59 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on criminal illegal aliens deemed among the most dangerous, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided. The accompanying articles frame this as a continued or intensified effort compared to prior years.
Evidence of progress so far: DHS/ICE published formal announcements on January 2 and January 5, 2026 detailing the arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, rape, and related offenses. The January 2 release highlighted several cases across multiple states and framed the effort as kicking off the new year with targeted removals; the January 5 release emphasized a large manpower increase and continued weekend arrests of homicide, stalking, rape, and gang-related offenses (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Completion status: There is no formal completion date or metric attached to the promise, and DHS/ICE frames the work as an ongoing mission for 2026. Given the absence of a defined end date or milestone, the status is best described as in_progress. The public DHS statements indicate continued activity into early January 2026, but do not indicate a finite finish.
Dates and milestones: The two DHS press releases (January 2 and January 5, 2026) establish a start-of-year push with specific arrest cases and a stated manpower expansion (over 12,000 new officers and agents in the January 5 release). There is no later official milestone published in the sources consulted here that would mark completion or a stop date for the initiative.
Source reliability note: The core claims come from DHS/ICE official press releases, which are primary sources for policy announcements and law-enforcement actions. Independent reporting on the specifics of individual arrests is limited in the available material, and one should note the DHS framing emphasizes “worst of the worst” as a policy narrative. Cross-referencing with independent outlets yields varied framing but does not contradict the existence of ongoing arrests under this initiative (see DHS pages and mainstream coverage in early January 2026).
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 02:10 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public DHS/ICE communications show an explicit
New Year’s pledge and ongoing enforcement actions framed around arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst.'
Evidence of progress includes DHS press releases in January 2026 announcing arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related violent crimes. Initial entries were published January 2, 2026, with additional updates in the following days detailing further cases across multiple jurisdictions.
By the end of January 2026, DHS reiterates the ongoing campaign with weekend and daily updates, indicating continued arrests across jurisdictions. The material presents momentum but does not provide a fixed quantitative target or deadline, so the completion condition remains unsettled as of now.
Concrete milestones exist in the form of listed arrests on specific dates and locations, but the overall program is described as an ongoing effort rather than a single completed action. Given the agency’s enforcement-oriented framing, independent verification would strengthen the assessment, though the official releases are verifiable primary sources.
Overall, the available official materials suggest the project is active and ongoing in 2026, with continued arrests of high-severity offenders anticipated, but no final completion date or metric has been specified.
Update · Feb 01, 2026, 12:07 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE claim is that 2026 would feature more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release formally announced ICE would begin the new year with continued progress in removing the 'worst of the worst' from communities, listing several high-profile arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day. Subsequent ICE releases in January 2026 continued to highlight arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (examples cited in DHS release material).
Status assessment: The target appears to be ongoing throughout 2026 rather than a single completed milestone. There is explicit public indication from DHS that the effort is active at the start of 2026 and ongoing, with multiple arrests reported in the first weeks of the year. No end-date or quantitative completion metric is provided, so the status remains best characterized as in_progress.
Dates and milestones: The initial public signal came with the January 2, 2026 DHS press release. Specific arrests cited in that release and subsequent ICE statements mark concrete early milestones (e.g., individual cases announced in early January 2026). The absence of a fixed completion date means continued monitoring is required to determine overall year-end status.
Source reliability and notes: The primary source is a U.S. DHS press release, a high-quality official government source. Coverage from other outlets corroborated that ICE publicized 'worst of the worst' arrests in early January 2026, but the strongest validation remains official DHS communications. Given the incentive structure of ICE and DHS to publicly report enforcement actions, readers should interpret initial press releases as illustrative rather than a complete accounting for the year.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 10:02 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified effort to arrest individuals categorized as the most violent or dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE released formal statements on January 2 and January 5, 2026 detailing arrests of individuals described as among the worst criminal illegal aliens, including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, rape, and other violent crimes. The releases identified multiple cases across various jurisdictions and highlighted a large-scale push at the start of 2026.
Assessment of completion status: There is no published completion metric or end-date for the initiative. The January 2026 DHS releases show initial arrests and a continuing posture, but they do not indicate a finalized target or a completed milestone for 2026. The completion condition (ongoing, year-long arrests) remains ambiguously defined.
Milestones and dates: The two press releases (January 2 and January 5, 2026) document early arrests and frame them as part of a broader 2026 effort. They also reference a ramp-up in manpower and ongoing enforcement, but lack a comprehensive year-end tally or formal closure statement.
Source reliability and incentives: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary-government sources. As government communications, they reflect policy emphasis and incentive to portray aggressive enforcement; cross-checking with ICE enforcement statistics would help corroborate broader trends beyond initial arrests. Overall, the sources support the existence of an intensified push in early 2026 but do not establish a quantified completion status.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 07:59 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim that there would be intentional, continued emphasis on arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' in 2026, described as prioritizing convicted individuals with severe criminal histories. The public articulation of this stance is evidenced by a DHS press release framing 2026 as a year of increased arrests targeting violent and predatory offenses. The December 2025 article you provided appears to echo this commitment as a
New Year’s-resolution framing, but the official baseline is in 2026 communications from DHS/ICE itself. The claim rests on a single phrase used in their messaging rather than a formal, metric-based plan.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests described as targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related offenses. A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 lists multiple specific individuals apprehended on New Year’s Eve/Day alongside descriptions of their convictions, signaling active enforcement aligned with the claim. The release explicitly frames these actions as part of removing the 'worst of the worst' from communities, indicating concrete arrests were carried out at the outset of 2026. This establishes an initial milestone for the year, though it does not provide a comprehensive, end-of-year metric.
Ongoing status and milestones: The January 2, 2026 DHS release documents arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, signaling continued enforcement activity into 2026. There is no published deadline or completion condition for the broader program in DHS materials beyond the ongoing practice of targeting high-risk offenders; thus, the status remains open-ended for the year. The absence of a quantified target or closure date means we cannot declare completion or failure; the initiative appears to be continuing through 2026 with periodic arrests as described in official releases. The available evidence suggests progress at the start of 2026, with ongoing enforcement implied.
Reliability and context of sources: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which is a definitive primary document for government actions and statements. Coverage from other reputable outlets corroborates that ICE framed early-2026 activity around high-risk offenders, though journalistic interpretations note ongoing debates about the composition of arrested individuals. Given the incentive structure of enforcement agencies and their public communications, the “worst of the worst” framing is a policy narrative aligned with deterrence and removal goals. The sources used are official and contemporaneous, supporting a cautious interpretation of ongoing, not yet completed, activity.
Bottom-line assessment: The claim is currently best characterized as in_progress. There is concrete evidence of early-2026 arrests fitting the 'worst of the worst' narrative, starting January 2, 2026, but no end date or definitive completion condition is published. The information supports ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed mission by a fixed date. If you want a follow-up, one could track ICE press releases periodically throughout 2026 to determine whether arrests continue at a similar or evolving pace and whether any formal metrics or milestones are published.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 06:25 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst.' The source article from 2025-12-30 framed this as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 with no specific metrics or deadlines.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with additional arrests targeting convicted individuals categorized as the worst of the worst, including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS ICE press release, Jan 2, 2026). The initial arrests list multiple named individuals and locations, illustrating concrete enforcement activity at year start.
Assessment of completion: There is no completion, only an ongoing program for 2026. The January 2, 2026 DHS release documents immediate actions and signals continued enforcement, but does not indicate a final tally, end date, or a completed milestone for the policy.
Key milestones and dates: January 2, 2026 press release documents the first wave of arrests (New Year’s Eve/Day) and provides specific cases and jurisdictions, marking the formal kickoff of the stated objective for 2026. No further definitive milestones or end dates are provided in that release.
Reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary sources for this claim. As with any enforcement emphasis, contextual incentives include immigration policy priorities and resource allocation; independent verification from independent observers or data dashboards would bolster assessment of progress. Overall, the available official record confirms initiation but not a complete or final status by late January 2026.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 04:00 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE promised a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: On January 2, 2026, ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of the ongoing 'worst of the worst' effort (DHS, 2026-01-02). Additional DHS releases in late January 2026 continued to highlight arrests of violent offenders, including pedophiles and drug traffickers, suggesting the program remained active (DHS, 2026-01-21; DHS, 2026-01-26; DHS, 2026-01-28). Reliability note: DHS’s own agency communications are the primary source for these claims; coverage from independent outlets was not required to validate the agency’s announcements here, but independent reporting generally corroborates the high-level description of ongoing arrests. The sources are official government communications (DHS/ICE), which reduces the risk of misinterpretation but should be read as the agency’s framing of its activities rather than an external audit of outcomes (DHS 2026-01-02, 2026-01-21). Conclusion on status: There is clear evidence of ongoing arrests under the 'worst of the worst' framing in early 2026, but no stated completion date or milestone indicating a finish; thus the claim remains in_progress.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 02:03 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” implying intensified enforcement against high-risk criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release announced the start of 2026 with arrests tied to the “worst of the worst” category, detailing cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This provides a concrete early-year deployment of the stated approach. Completion status: There is no published completion condition or deadline, and the materials describe ongoing enforcement activity rather than a finalized outcome, so the initiative remains in_progress.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 12:18 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed in 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst arrests” of convicted criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE issued a public release on January 2, 2026 detailing
New Year’s arrests of individuals convicted of severe offenses as part of continuing efforts to remove the “worst of the worst” from communities. The release documents multiple specific cases and a narrative of ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026. Reliability: the DHS/ICE press release is an official government source; it explicitly frames arrests as part of the agency’s ongoing enforcement posture for 2026. Completion status: as of the end of January 2026, there is demonstrable progress and initial arrests, but no final completion date or comprehensive metric; the claim remains in_progress with early milestones released and enforcement activity ongoing through the year.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 10:38 AMin_progress
What the claim stated: The DHS/ICE press material framed a New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting the most serious criminal migrants. The quote appeared in a DHS news release associated with ICE early in 2026.
What evidence exists that progress has been made: DHS/ICE publicly announced arrests on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026 of individuals described as “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, listing specific cases and jurisdictions.
Progress status and completion: The initiative appears to be ongoing, with initial arrests reported at the start of 2026 and no published end-date or single completion milestone. The communications describe a continuing enforcement posture rather than a discrete project with a fixed endpoint.
Key dates and milestones: The principal milestone is the January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release announcing the kickoff and the first round of arrests. No formal metrics or deadlines beyond that date were provided in the release.
Reliability and context: The information comes from an official government source (DHS/ICE). While it reflects the agency’s framing and emphasis on enforcement, independent verification of continued arrests and outcomes would strengthen confidence in progress assessments.
Follow-up plan: I can monitor subsequent DHS/ICE updates through early 2026 to map ongoing arrests and any changes to targets or metrics, and provide an updated status.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 08:58 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” expanding the removal of highly dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release publicly frames the year as starting with continued progress and arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, framing these actions as part of the same “worst of the worst” initiative (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Progress evidence: The official DHS release on January 2, 2026 explicitly announces arrests of individuals with convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, signaling that the initiative is active in 2026. The release provides named examples of arrestees and notes the ongoing removal efforts across multiple jurisdictions (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Current status and completion likelihood: There is no formal completion date or metric published for the 2026 push. The available official material describes ongoing arrests at the start of 2026, indicating the effort is ongoing rather than completed or canceled (DHS, 2026-01-02). A separate DHS page from December 30, 2025 reiterates the intent for 2026 but includes language and framing that has raised questions about sourcing reliability; however, the January 2 update provides concrete evidence of continued arrests (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02).
Dates and milestones: Shown milestones include the
New Year arrests announced on January 2, 2026, detailing specific individuals and convictions, representing an initial milestone in the 2026 effort. The absence of a defined metric or end date means progress will be judged by ongoing arrest and removal activity rather than a fixed deadline (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Source reliability note: The January 2, 2026 DHS press release is an official government source documenting concrete arrests and statements from ICE leadership. A December 30, 2025 DHS page also exists to signal intent but contains language that has been questioned for reliability in some outlets; given the inconsistency, the January 2026 document is the more reliable signal of current activity (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02). Overall, the status appears to be active enforcement with ongoing arrests in early 2026, not a completed program or a canceled effort.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 04:36 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE claim that 2026 would feature more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests targeting individuals convicted of serious offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, in a January 2, 2026 DHS press release. The release lists named individuals and jurisdictions as part of early-year enforcement actions.
Completion status: There is no fixed completion date or metric provided; the release frames arrests as ongoing progress rather than a completed milestone.
Milestones and dates: The DHS release is dated January 2, 2026 and describes arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day with convictions across several states, but no end date or numerical target is given.
Reliability and context: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which is the authoritative record for this initiative. Coverage from other outlets is limited for this specific claim, and no independent metric is available to verify a final completion.
Incentives context: The framing emphasizes high-severity removals as a public-safety measure, reflecting enforcement priorities that influence how progress is measured and communicated over time.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 03:05 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 is to conduct more arrests of the so-called worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, signaling intensified enforcement at the start of the year. The claim is grounded in a DHS press release announcing a
New Year’s push to remove individuals convicted of serious crimes, framing them as the worst of the worst. The source quoted in the claim appears consistent with DHS language used in official briefings and press materials. Overall, the claim is specific in rhetoric but lacks a public, formal metric or deadline, making ongoing monitoring appropriate.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports ICE beginning the year with arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, listing cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes. The release attributes the actions to ongoing ICE enforcement efforts and quotes officials highlighting safety benefits to communities. A separate DHS article from January 5, 2026 similarly emphasizes continued enforcement momentum into 2026. Taken together, these updates demonstrate active enforcement activity aligned with the stated objective, though they do not provide comprehensive nationwide arrest tallies.
Current status and completion prospects: There is no published completion date or endpoint in the DHS materials; the policy language frames 2026 as an ongoing enforcement effort rather than a discrete project with a finish line. The evidence indicates continued conduct of high-profile arrests early in 2026, but it remains unclear how the scope will be measured (e.g., total arrests, geographic distribution, or crime types) over the year. Because the claim hinges on ongoing activity rather than a completed milestone, the status should be considered in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Dates and milestones: The January 2, 2026 DHS release marks a formal kickoff for 2026 arrests of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst, with explicit examples of cases in several states. A January 5, 2026 DHS update and related coverage reaffirm ongoing enforcement. No final yearly tally or closure date has been published; milestone tracking appears to rely on periodic DHS updates rather than a single deadline. These published items provide the clearest near-term milestones for early 2026.
Source reliability note: The principal sources are official DHS press releases and DHS.gov content, which are primary statements from the agency responsible for ICE operations. While these materials reflect the agency’s framing and priorities, they may emphasize success and safety narratives. Independent verification from third-party outlets or corroborating data (e.g., arrest counts by year) would strengthen assessment, but the official releases themselves are the strongest contemporaneous indicators of status.
Update · Jan 31, 2026, 01:06 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would feature 'more worst of the worst arrests' targeting serious-crime offenders, framed as a
New Year’s resolution. The commitment appeared in ICE-related DHS communications amid coverage of arrests of individuals with violent or severe offenses. Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports ICE starting the year with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes. The release lists multiple named defendants and casts the effort as ongoing enforcement rather than a single milestone. Current status: There is indication of ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026, but no formal end-date or completion criterion is provided, so the status remains in_progress. Reliability note: Information from DHS/ICE is a primary source for policy promises and enforcement actions; the rhetoric reflects official framing and messaging incentives around public safety and law enforcement priorities.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 10:48 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim is that in 2026 they would carry out more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst.' This originated from a DHS press item released around the end of 2025 and was reiterated in early 2026 communications.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE launched 2026 messaging with multiple official statements indicating continued operations aimed at high-priority targets, including arrests described as the 'worst of the worst' such as individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., homicide, sexual assault of a child). These updates appear in DHS ICE press materials dated Jan 2, 2026 and Jan 5–6, 2026.
Current status: The DHS communications show ongoing arrest activity at the start of 2026, with explicit emphasis on significant arrests and expanded manpower to pursue high-priority targets. There is no stated completion date, and no formal end point announced in these early 2026 releases, so the effort remains in progress as of late January 2026.
Milestones and dates: Jan 2, 2026: ICE announces start-of-year arrests targeting the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Jan 5–6, 2026: subsequent releases reference ongoing operations, including hires and continued enforcement emphasis. These provide a trajectory but not a fixed milestone or deadline.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary documentation of the agency’s stated objectives and actions. While they describe target crimes and expanded manpower, independent verification of every arrest category and a full set of outcomes is not presented in these releases. Readers should view these as agency statements about policy emphasis and ongoing enforcement activity rather than a finalized program with published metrics.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 08:30 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 focus on conducting more arrests of individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst.” The initial public framing in late 2025 set a
New Year’s resolution to pursue such arrests in 2026. Public statements and press releases from DHS/ICE since January 2026 show ongoing enforcement actions targeting high-severity offenders, including child sexual assault, murder, and fraud convictions (DHS press release, 2026-01-02; ICE press release, 2026-01-10). Evidence thus far indicates continued emphasis on high-profile criminal cases as part of 2026 enforcement efforts, but there is no published end-date or quantitative metric yet. The completion condition remains unverified, since the year 2026 has not concluded and no final tally or milestone completion has been announced.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 06:48 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the so-called "worst of the worst" among criminal illegal aliens, without a defined completion metric or deadline. Evidence of progress shows ICE issuing early-2026 releases highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes, indicating ongoing enforcement activity. By January 10, 2026, ICE released details of dozens more arrests in
Minnesota, including convicts of murder and child rape, suggesting continued operations into early 2026. There is no formal completion date or endpoint; the existence of ongoing press releases implies the initiative is active but not complete.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 04:11 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled the 'worst of the worst.' The initial framing came from a December 30, 2025 DHS release and a January 2026 follow-up, explicitly tying 2026 to intensified enforcement targeting violent and serious-crime offenders (pedophiles, murderers, etc.). DHS press materials use the same rhetoric to describe ongoing operations and arrests (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02).
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 02:15 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” implying a sustained push to arrest and remove individuals classified as the most dangerous or egregious criminal illegal aliens. The public framing relied on a
New Year’s resolution style statement by DHS/ICE.
Evidence of progress exists in DHS ICE public updates issued in early January 2026, describing multiple arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, fraud) and framing the operations as ongoing efforts to remove the “worst of the worst” from communities. These updates appeared on January 2, 5, and subsequent dates, indicating ongoing action rather than a one-time event (examples: Jan 2 and Jan 5 DHS ICE updates). Short-form summaries highlight individuals arrested across various states and crimes, consistent with an expanded enforcement posture.
There is no published completion condition or end date in these DHS pages. The phrasing is ongoing in nature, and subsequent updates continued to report new arrests through January 2026. As of January 30, 2026, DHS ICE had published multiple daily or near-daily announcements highlighting new arrests, but a formal completion milestone or total count for 2026 has not been provided. The status therefore reads as in_progress rather than complete.
Key dates and milestones observed so far include the Dec 30, 2025 page announcing the 2025 closeout and the Jan 2, 2026 update inaugurating 2026 with new arrests, followed by additional updates in the first weeks of January detailing specific cases across several states. These items establish a pattern of ongoing communications and actions rather than a finished, boundary-defined program. Reliability is moderate-to-high for DHS official press content, though the framing is policy-promotional and should be read with awareness of institutional incentives.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 12:36 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE announced a renewed effort for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” targeting criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: a January 2, 2026 ICE/DHS press release reports arrests made on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, indicating active enforcement early in 2026. Evidence of ongoing status: the release presents the start of the year’s enforcement push but does not specify a completion date or metrics, suggesting the program is ongoing rather than finished. Reliability notes: the information comes directly from a DHS/ICE press release dated 2026-01-02, which is an official source, though the framing uses charged language; corroboration from additional independent outlets was not required to establish the basic event chronology.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 11:00 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an expanded effort to arrest and remove individuals classified as the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The statement appeared in a 2025 DHS press release and framed 2026 as an intensified enforcement year. A January 2026 DHS release reiterates the aim of continued progress in removing the worst of the worst, reinforcing the stated objective for 2026.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 09:02 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE aimed to conduct more arrests of “the worst of the worst” in 2026, continuing enforcement against severely criminal illegal aliens. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release confirms ICE kicked off 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, signaling a renewed focus on its “worst of the worst” framing. This establishes a public-facing policy stance and a concrete initial set of actions (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress includes the specific arrests announced in the release, covering multiple jurisdictions and offenses, which demonstrates operational activity aligned with the stated goal. Media coverage at the time echoed intensified enforcement rhetoric, but the DHS release remains the primary source for the headline claim and the initial milestones. The completion condition remains undefined, as no metric or deadline was provided.
At present, there is no official completion date or end-state announced for 2026. The press release documents early January arrests but does not indicate how many total arrests or a final target will be reached by year-end. Given the lack of a quantified milestone, the status should be read as ongoing enforcement at a heightened level, subject to future updates.
Reliability notes: the primary source is a DHS press release, a direct governmental communication, which strengthens credibility for the stated objective and first-month actions. Secondary reporting references the DHS material but should be treated cautiously if not corroborated by additional official data (e.g., ICE arrest tallies). Tracking whether the stated goal yields a sustained annual cadence requires ongoing updates from DHS.
Follow-up should reassess after a reasonable interval (e.g., quarterly or mid-year) to evaluate whether additional arrests meet any implied or explicit targets and whether DHS publishes updated milestones or totals for 2026.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 04:31 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE signaled in 2025 that 2026 would involve “more worst of the worst arrests,” with no specific metrics or deadlines. Evidence to date shows ICE publicly continuing the targeted arrest policy into early 2026, suggesting ongoing progress toward that aim (DHS press releases, Jan 2–Jan 10, 2026).
Progress observed: ICE issued multiple press releases in January 2026 announcing arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and other serious crimes (DHS: Jan 2, 2026; Jan 5, 2026; Jan 6, 2026; Jan 10, 2026). One release additionally highlighted expanded manpower and structural steps to accelerate removals (DHS: Jan 6, 2026).
Current status and milestones: By late January 2026, ICE publicly reported dozens of arrests and ongoing operations, with continued emphasis on removals in jurisdictions across the country (ICE press releases and DHS announcements, early–mid January 2026). There is no public completion date or final metric, indicating the effort remains active but without a fixed end-point disclosed.
Reliability note: The primary sources are U.S. Department of Homeland Security and
U.S. ICE press releases, which are official statements detailing arrests and policy aims. Coverage from independent outlets and fact-checkers exists, but the core progression relies on DHS/ICE communications, which are directly aligned with the stated policy objective. Potential incentives include public safety messaging and political signaling regarding immigration enforcement.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 02:27 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct additional arrests of those labeled as the 'worst of the worst,' focusing on violent criminals and serious offenses. The New Year’s resolution framed the goal as ongoing enforcement against high‑risk individuals.
Evidence of progress exists in agency communications early in 2026, with DHS highlighting year-end arrests and ICE releasing statements in January 2026 about arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., murder and child sexual offenses) in various jurisdictions.
As of 2026-01-29, these developments indicate continued enforcement activity consistent with the claim, but there is no single metric or deadline published by DHS/ICE to mark completion of the pledge. The materials describe ongoing operations rather than a closed, finished target for the year.
Key milestones include the December 29, 2025 DHS release outlining high‑risk arrests around year‑end and the January 10, 2026 ICE release detailing dozens of arrests in
Minnesota among other actions. Together, they establish concrete arrests tied to the policy frame but not a final completion date.
Source reliability rests on official DHS/ICE communications, which provide primary documentation for the described actions. While reporting captures enforcement activity, it does not confirm a finalized, year‑long completion, leaving the overall status as ongoing through early 2026.
Update · Jan 30, 2026, 12:49 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged to carry out more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminals in 2026. Evidence shows the program explicitly continued into 2026, with a Jan 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing the ring-in of 2026 and detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related serious crimes. This demonstrates a continuation of the prior year's emphasis on targeting high-severity offenders, rather than a discrete completion of a one-off promise.
Evidence of progress includes the specific arrests listed in the Jan 2, 2026 DHS release, including individuals from
Mexico,
Honduras,
Jamaica, and other countries, with crimes ranging from aggravated sexual assault of a child to murder and fraud. The release attributes these arrests to ICE operations during
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, signaling sustained enforcement activity and a public communication of ongoing priorities. There is no stated end date or completion milestone in the release, reflecting an ongoing program rather than a finite project.
Reliability of sources: the primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides direct statements and named individuals connected to specific cases. While the rhetoric emphasizes “worst of the worst,” the report remains anchored in verifiable arrest records and official statements. Given the brief window (New Year’s Eve/Day) and the absence of a formal timeline, the status is best described as ongoing and continuing rather than completed.
Context note: DHS has framed these actions as part of a broader enforcement approach under the administration’s immigration priorities, and other DHS releases throughout December 2025 described ongoing arrests under the same label. This supports a consistent pattern of high-severity targeting, though the incentives of law enforcement messaging and political framing should be considered when interpreting the emphasis placed on individual arrests and categories. Overall, the claim remains in_progress as of early 2026, with concrete arrests confirmed but no completion milestone announced.
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 10:59 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests.”
Evidence of progress: ICE released a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including offenders convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes across multiple states. This represents a concrete, public initiation of the stated objective early in 2026.
Progress status: The January 2, 2026 announcement confirms ongoing enforcement focused on high-severity cases, aligning with the claim’s aim to increase arrests of serious offenders. The December 30, 2025 release had already framed 2026 as continuing that effort, creating a transitional link between 2025 and 2026. There is no published completion metric or deadline, so the status remains ongoing rather than completed.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which provide direct statements and arrest data. Given official framing, the reporting should be viewed in the context of enforcement communications and promotional framing around ICE operations rather than an independent audit of outcomes. Independent verification of broader impact or long‑term trends beyond reported arrests is limited in these releases.
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 08:24 PMin_progress
Brief restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, signaling an ongoing initiative throughout the year. The claim centers on continued, higher-intensity enforcement targeting violent and heinous offenders.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced multiple new-year updates in January 2026 highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) across various states. The agency’s January 2, 5, 7, and 16 updates document ongoing operations and arrests consistent with the stated objective.
Status of completion: As of late January 2026, ICE had not announced a definitive end date or a final tally for 2026; however, the ongoing series of press releases indicates continued implementation of the policy and active arrests. The completion condition remains in progress, with milestones reported rather than a final conclusion.
Dates and milestones observed: January 2, 2026 (arrests for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud); January 5, 2026 (arrests linked to homicide, stalking, kidnapping, and rape); January 7, 2026 (arrests including sexual offenses against children and human trafficking-related cases); January 16, 2026 (arrests involving continued sexual offense charges). These entries show repeated enforcement actions within the year.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, providing primary communications about enforcement activity. While the framing is strong, the updates focus on arrests tied to formal criminal convictions and charges, aligning with standard enforcement reporting. Independent outlets corroborate ongoing enforcement patterns and public discussion around the policy.
Follow-up notes: A year-end review or consolidated ICE enforcement summary would provide a fuller measure of total arrests under the policy for 2026.
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 06:53 PMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE statement promises 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, building on the prioritization seen in 2025. The phrasing is explicit about targeting high-risk individuals, but it does not define a formal metric or deadline.
Progress evidence: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE’s kickoff of 2026 with arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst,' including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This demonstrates initial operational momentum and a public-facing milestone early in the year.
Milestones and scope: The release lists specific arrests around
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day across multiple states, focusing on child sexual assault, murder, and firearm-related offenses. It signals continued emphasis on high-profile cases but provides no comprehensive year-long target or completion timeline.
Source reliability and context: The information comes from an official ICE/DHS press release, a high-quality government source that details cases and locations. While reliable for announced arrests, it reflects the agency’s narrative and incentives to publicize law-enforcement accomplishments.
Assessment of status: The claim is currently in_progress, with early-2026 arrests confirming momentum toward the stated aim. A year-end review or periodic progress reports would be needed to determine whether the goal is sustained and to assess total annual outcomes.
Notes on follow-up: Consider checking ICE annual summaries or subsequent DHS press releases through 2026 to verify total arrests and any shifts in emphasis.
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 04:18 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on removing high-risk, criminal illegal aliens. Evidence to date shows ICE publicly announcing targeted arrests at the start of 2026, signaling ongoing enforcement efforts. A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports multiple arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes during
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, framed as part of removing the “worst of the worst.” These announcements indicate initial progress toward the stated goal, though no comprehensive metric or end date was provided in the release.
Progress indicators include named individuals and locations in the January 2, 2026 DHS release, illustrating concrete enforcement actions and continued operations during the holiday period. The press release quotes an ICE official emphasizing safety and the removal of dangerous offenders, reinforcing the claim of prioritizing high-severity cases. However, the article and release do not provide a quantified target, timeline, or completion criteria for the 2026 effort, making it difficult to assess overall progress beyond the initial arrests.
Status note: The claim remains in the early phase (in_progress). The January 2026 actions demonstrate that ICE has begun to execute the policy priority, but without explicit metrics, deadlines, or a declared end state, it is not possible to declare the goal completed. Additional updates or quarterly summaries would be needed to evaluate whether the program scales up, maintains pace, or achieves specified outcomes.
Key dates and milestones identified include the December 2025–January 2026 period of arrests highlighted in the DHS release (Release Date: 2026-01-02). The release lists individual arrestees and their offenses, providing concrete, if partial, milestones that illustrate the initial implementation of the stated objective. No later dates or incremental milestones are provided in the release, so ongoing monitoring will be necessary to determine sustained progress through 2026.
Reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides direct statements and confirmed arrest actions. As with law-enforcement announcements, the reporting may emphasize enforcement framing and operational success while lacking broader, independent corroboration. Cross-checking with court records or subsequent DHS updates would strengthen the evaluative basis, but the current record supports that ICE initiated 2026 with targeted arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst.”
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 02:21 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE aimed for “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. Evidence of progress: ICE published a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, highlighting individuals convicted of serious crimes, framed as ongoing enforcement for 2026. Completion status: no final completion date or end-of-year metric is provided; the activity appears ongoing beyond early January 2026. Reliability: the primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, a high-quality governmental source documenting enforcement actions.
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 12:26 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. This language frames ongoing enforcement as a deliberate increase in targeting dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The claim describes a trajectory rather than a fixed metric or deadline.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced arrests in early 2026 as part of this initiative. On January 2, 2026, ICE highlighted the arrest of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, signaling continued operations and a focus on high-severity cases (DHS news release). A subsequent January 5, 2026 release framed the effort as a ramp-up aided by increased personnel (noting a 120% manpower increase and over 12,000 new officers/agents) and listed additional cases across multiple jurisdictions. Additional updates in January 2026 similarly described ongoing enforcement actions against violent and serious offenders (DHS/ICE press coverage and releases).
Completion status: There is no defined completion date or single milestone indicating finalization. The available records show ongoing arrests and public framing of 2026 as a year of intensified enforcement, consistent with the stated aim but not a completed end-state by a fixed date. The policy appears to be in_progress, with continued announcements of new arrests rather than a closed-end completion.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 press release outlining initial arrests (pedophilia, murder, fraud categories) and the January 5, 2026 release noting a manpower increase and weekend arrests. These contemporaneous items establish the claim’s progression but do not establish a final completion date. The trend appears ongoing through January 2026 based on DHS/ICE communications.
Source reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which reflect the agency’s stated objectives and activities. While these provide direct insight into policy emphasis and enforcement actions, they represent the agency’s framing and may emphasize successful outcomes. Corroborating independent reporting (e.g., local authorities or court records) can help verify individual case details, but the overarching claim rests on official DHS/ICE statements and arrest announcements (DHS 2026-01-02, 2026-01-05).
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 10:34 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026, framed as a
New Year’s resolution, was to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. This framing was publicly issued by DHS in early January 2026. (DHS news releases, Jan 2, 2026; Jan 5, 2026)
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with continued enforcement actions targeting individuals described as the worst of the worst, including those with violent crimes and predatory offenses. The Jan 2, 2026 release highlighted arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The Jan 5, 2026 release expanded on the roster of high-priority arrests across multiple jurisdictions. (DHS, Jan 2, 2026; DHS, Jan 5, 2026)
Current status: As of late January 2026, ICE’s communications describe ongoing enforcement activity under the same framing, with additional arrests reported over the New Year period and continuing into 2026. There is no published completion date or metric in these announcements, so the objective remains an ongoing program rather than a completed milestone. (DHS, Jan 2, 2026; DHS, Jan 5, 2026)
Reliability and context: DHS press releases are primary sources for agency statements and arrest announcements, though they reflect the agency’s framing and incentives for enforcement. Independent accountability reporting and civil society analysis should be consulted for broader context on outcomes and impacts. The incentives here include public safety messaging and policy priorities expressed by DHS leadership. (DHS, Jan 2, 2026; DHS, Jan 5, 2026)
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 08:41 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so‑called “worst of the worst” criminals, extending the prior year’s rhetoric into 2026. Evidence from official DHS communications shows a staged rollout beginning in early January 2026, emphasizing intensified enforcement and the recruitment of additional officers to pursue high‑risk targets (DHS, Jan 2, 2026; DHS, Jan 5–7, 2026).
Progress indicators: DHS publicly framed January 2026 operations as an ongoing effort, with multiple press releases highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, human trafficking) and the onboarding of thousands of new personnel to support these efforts (DHS, Jan 2, 2026; DHS, Jan 6–7, 2026). Reports from independent fact‑checking and media analyses in late January note that arrest figures in 2026 have included notable operations, but emphasize that “worst of the worst” labeling remains contested and data transparency is incomplete (FactCheck.org, Jan 28, 2026).
Status assessment: The official stance and initial actions indicate that ICE began an intensified 2026 campaign and intends to continue additional arrests throughout the year, but there is no publicly disclosed completion criterion or end date. Therefore, the claim is best characterized as underway and open‑ended rather than completed. Independent analyses question how strictly the “worst of the worst” framing maps to
U.S. criminal records data, but do not refute that ICE has launched and continued operations in 2026 (FactCheck.org, Jan 2026).
Reliability note: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect the agency’s designated framing and policy priorities. While DHS provides concrete arrest announcements, it does not consistently publish comprehensive, auditable national arrest tallies, limiting independent verification of total progress. Cross‑checking with independent data projects (e.g., Deportation Data Project) and reputable fact‑checkers helps balance the narrative (FactCheck.org, Jan 2026).
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 04:23 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, a
New Year’s resolution-like framing indicating an ongoing enforcement emphasis rather than a one-off target. The 2026 DHS press release confirms this framing and describes continued enforcement against high-priority criminal illegal aliens, signaling intent to sustain the approach. There is no specified completion date or quantified metric attached to the aim, making the objective inherently ongoing for the year. The language and structure imply a policy direction rather than a finite milestone with a fixed deadline.
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 02:37 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, continuing the prior year’s framing. The completion condition was stated as conducting additional arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst” during 2026, with no specific metric or deadline. The current date is 2026-01-28, and the claim remains a stated ongoing objective rather than a completed milestone.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms ICE began 2026 with arrests described as targeting the most dangerous offenders, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release details multiple named individuals arrested on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, illustrating concrete arrests under the stated policy frame.
Status of completion: The announcements indicate initial arrests have occurred, but there is no published metric, deadline, or total count for 2026. As the policy frame is ongoing and the completion condition is not tied to a fixed target, the status is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Source reliability and note: The primary source is a
U.S. government DHS release (official, contemporaneous with the events), which strengthens reliability for the reported arrests. Additional coverage from non-government outlets exists but is ancillary; the DHS release remains the core document for the claim’s progress. Given the incentives at the agency level to demonstrate enforcement activity, readers should consider these as initial data points rather than a final assessment of annual outcomes.
Follow-up: Schedule a review for 2026-12-31 to assess whether ICE has met any formalized progress benchmarks or total-year targets regarding “worst of the worst” arrests, and to verify any subsequent DHS updates on 2026 outcomes.
Update · Jan 29, 2026, 12:45 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aimed to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, following a
New Year’s resolution declared at the end of 2025. The initial public articulation of the promise came from a December 30, 2025 DHS/ICE release that framed 2026 as a period for increased arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. This establishes the stated objective and its source, but not a quantified benchmark or deadline beyond the calendar year 2026.
Evidence of progress includes ICE’s January 10, 2026 press release detailing dozens of arrests in
Minnesota of individuals described as among the worst of the worst, including individuals with violent or serious criminal histories. This demonstrates ongoing enforcement activity and a procedural focus consistent with the stated aim, albeit limited to a specific locale and not a nationwide metric.
As of late January 2026, there is no public indicator of a formal, completed set of nationwide benchmarks or a conclusion to the initiative. The ICE releases emphasize ongoing operations and political rhetoric rather than a fixed completion condition, and coverage notes that the program could include additional arrests in other jurisdictions over 2026. The presence of multiple press releases suggests the policy is active, not concluded.
Source reliability varies but remains anchored in official government communication (DHS/ICE) with corroborating reporting from other outlets referencing ICE actions. While the December 2025 release explicitly states the 2026 aim, and the January 2026 release shows concrete arrests under that aim, cautious interpretation is warranted given concerns raised by independent outlets about arrest classifications and the broader policy framing. Overall, the claim is best described as currently in_progress with demonstrable incidents and continuing enforcement activity in early 2026.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 10:39 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE promise for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens. The source framing in early 2026 points to a continued emphasis on high-profile, serious offenses and publicized removals. The claim itself centers on an ongoing enforcement stance rather than a defined quantified target or deadline.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, highlighting specific individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 enumerates a list of named individuals and jurisdictions where arrests occurred, signaling operational activity under the 2026 emphasis. This represents contemporaneous progress rather than a completed milestone.
Progress status and completion: As of 2026-01-28, there is no publicly disclosed completion condition or endpoint for the 2026 initiative beyond ongoing enforcement actions and press disclosures. The agency has not issued a quantified metric, end date, or full accounting of total arrests for the year, making a definitive completion determination inappropriate at this time. The initiative appears to be in an ongoing phase with periodic, highly publicized arrests.
Dates and milestones: The DHS release (Jan 2, 2026) marks an initial milestone, listing multiple arrests and individuals involved. Additional coverage or agency updates would be required to confirm further milestones, totals, or changes to policy intensity throughout 2026. The absence of a formal completion target suggests continued operations rather than a completed project.
Source reliability and note on incentives: The primary source is an official DHS ICE press release, which provides direct substantive details about arrests and individuals involved. While government communications can reflect policy framing and enforcement priorities, the material here is straightforward in describing arrests and does not require extrapolation beyond the stated incidents. Context around incentives should consider the administration’s emphasis on prioritizing serious criminal cases, along with prosecutorial and political incentives that influence public messaging and enforcement emphasis.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 08:21 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would involve more arrests of the ‘worst of the worst’ criminal illegal aliens. The subsequent 2026 DHS material reiterates a continued emphasis on high-severity arrests as the year begins, framing it as ongoing enforcement rather than a completed program.
What progress exists: Early-2026 DHS releases describe ongoing high-severity arrests, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related offenses. A January 2, 2026 DHS press release lists multiple arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day across several states as part of this effort.
Status of completion: There is no formal nationwide completion report for 2026; DHS describes the initiative as ongoing, with annual milestones not yet defined by a final tally or deadline. The presence of early arrests signals initial execution but not a completed end-state.
Dates and milestones: The original pledge appeared December 30, 2025. The January 2, 2026 release documents initial arrests across multiple jurisdictions, serving as milestones of execution rather than a conclusive year-end outcome.
Source framing and incentives: The releases are official government communications that frame enforcement as safer neighborhoods and successful operations. Independent observers have questioned metrics and classifications used in public summaries, underscoring the need to corroborate with broader datasets.
Bottom line: Based on available official evidence, the claim remains in progress in early 2026, with ongoing arrests cited as initial milestones rather than a completed end-state.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 06:33 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the pattern of targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The official framing comes from a January 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing ICE’s start to the year with arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, described as the “worst of the worst.” This establishes a policy posture for 2026 rather than a completed program. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02)
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 04:05 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would feature 'more worst of the worst arrests,' focusing on the most serious criminal illegal aliens. The 2026 DHS release framed the year as a continuation of removing high-risk offenders, and early 2026 reporting confirms arrests aligned with that aim.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 02:11 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced for 2026 a continued emphasis on arrests described as targeting the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicized initial enforcement actions at the start of 2026, including arrests of individuals described as 'worst of the worst' with offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (January 2, 2026).
Progress evaluation: The completion condition—ICE conducting additional arrests of individuals labeled the 'worst of the worst' during 2026—has been met in the sense that official DHS communications show ongoing arrests. There is no published end date or formal milestone, so status is ongoing.
Key milestones and dates: January 2, 2026 release details arrests nationwide; January 6, 2026 release notes a manpower increase and continued arrests, signaling ongoing implementation throughout the year.
Source reliability: The releases are official DHS/ICE statements, providing authoritative records of policy framing and actions. Independent coverage has raised questions in some jurisdictions about attribution and outcomes, so cross-checks with court records and local reporting are prudent.
Follow-up: Monitor annual arrest tallies, case dispositions, and resource changes through 2026 to assess whether the initiative yields measurable nationwide impact.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 12:14 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE vowed for 2026 to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens. The agency formalized this stance in a January 2026 press release, framing it as ongoing enforcement to remove high‑risk offenders from communities (DHS/ICE, 2026-01-02).
Progress evidence: The January 2, 2026 DHS release confirms that ICE began the year with continued removals of individuals described as the "worst of the worst" and cites specific arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes (DHS/ICE, 2026-01-02). The release lists multiple named individuals and locations, indicating concrete enforcement actions early in 2026.
Milestones and status: The press release documents arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, marking start‑of‑year momentum toward the stated objective. There is no published completion date or final metric, so the promise is not shown as completed; rather, it remains an ongoing enforcement posture for 2026.
Source reliability and context: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides direct statements and arrest data from ICE leadership. Coverage from other outlets at this stage appears to echo the agency’s framing but should be read with awareness of the agency’s incentive to emphasize removals and public safety narratives. The claim’s framing as a policy intention means status should be tracked through ICE arrest and removal data over 2026.
Follow‑up note: If available, a year‑end review (2026-12-31) or quarterly ICE enforcement data releases would clarify whether the target number of arrests or a concrete metric was met. Follow up date: 2026-12-31.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 10:35 AMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst.” The 2026 DHS press material explicitly frames this as a continuing effort at the start of the year, citing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes.
Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS ICE press release details arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, naming multiple individuals from various countries who were criminal illegal aliens and were convicted of serious offenses. The release characterizes these as part of a broader effort to remove “the worst of the worst” criminal aliens from
American communities.
Current status vs. completion: The claim can be considered ongoing rather than completed. The press release demonstrates activity early in 2026, but there is no stated end date or final milestone, and no aggregate 2026 totals are provided in the document.
Dates and milestones: The release is dated January 2, 2026. It documents specific arrests (e.g., convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and lists named individuals associated with those crimes, indicating concrete enforcement actions during the initial period of 2026.
Source reliability and context: The primary source is a DHS/ICE official press release, which is the most authoritative record for these actions. While the outlet is government-run, its framing is promotional for enforcement activity; cross-checking with independent outlets shows reported coverage but does not contradict the facts of arrests noted by DHS. In evaluating incentives, ICE emphasizes public safety and removal of dangerous offenders as the rationale for these targeted arrests.
Follow-up note: If monitoring completion, a follow-up on 2026-year-end results (e.g., total arrests under the “Worst of the Worst” designation) should be pursued once DHS releases a year-end summary or annual enforcement metrics.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 08:17 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature increased enforcement against what it characterized as the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided. Evidence of progress: a January 5, 2026 DHS press release issued by ICE highlights a 120% manpower increase and reports that the agency arrested individuals described as the worst of the worst, including murderers, stalkers, rapists, and gang members, over a weekend in early 2026. The release frames these arrests as ongoing momentum entering 2026, but provides limited, specific completion criteria or a fixed timeline. Evidence of completion status: there is no announced completion date or final milestone; the narrative centers on ongoing arrests and workforce expansion rather than a completed, end-state outcome.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 04:15 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. Publicly available DHS press releases at the start of 2026 explicitly frame ICE’s objectives around arresting the so-called worst of the worst and highlight a substantial manpower expansion to enable that effort. On January 2, 2026, DHS/ICE announced the start of 2026 with a cited 120% increase in manpower and the arrest of individuals convicted of severe crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (ICE Rings in 2026...). On January 5, 2026, a separate DHS release reiterates the aim to arrest murderers, gang members, and other serious offenders, placing emphasis on ongoing operations and a continued push into the new year (
New Year, Same Mission...). A January 6, 2026 release further documents ongoing arrests of individuals characterized as the worst of the worst, with multiple cases listed from various jurisdictions. Taken together, these official statements indicate active pursuit and ongoing arrests early in 2026, but they do not establish a fixed completion metric or deadline, leaving the outcome open and contingent on ongoing operations. The reliability of these sources is high, as they are DHS official communications (dhs.gov) detailing policy direction, staffing changes, and specific arrests with named individuals. In summary, progress is underway, but a final completion status for a declared 2026 objective is not yet determined as of late January 2026.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 02:17 AMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing an emphasis on high-priority criminal illegal aliens. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release framing the new year around “Rings in 2026 With More Arrests of Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens” indicates an ongoing programmatic push rather than a completed milestone. A subsequent ICE press release on January 10, 2026 details dozens of arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including violent offenders and sex-related crimes, illustrating concrete actions under the same policy frame. These sources show the initiative actively operating at the start of 2026, not a one-time proclamation.
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 12:45 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The source framing in late December 2025 and early January 2026 positions this as a continuing policy objective for the year ahead. The January 2026 DHS press series explicitly promotes ICE arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, signaling that the initiative is meant to persist throughout 2026 (DHS/ICE press releases, 2026-01-02; 2026-01-05; 2026-01-06).
Evidence of progress so far: multiple January 2026 DHS releases announce new arrests of individuals convicted of violent or serious crimes, including child rape, homicide-related offenses, and other violent crimes, underscoring ongoing enforcement actions under the stated policy frame (DHS press releases, 2026-01-02; 2026-01-05; 2026-01-06).
Status of completion: no formal end-date or metric is provided in the official material, and the record shows ongoing arrests rather than a completed milestone. The completion condition—“ICE conducts additional arrests of individuals characterized as the ‘worst of the worst’ during 2026”—remains open and contingent on continuing enforcement actions throughout the year (DHS press releases, 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02).
Reliability note: DHS/ICE official press releases are the primary sources for this claim. The outlets are government communications with a focus on enforcement statistics and personnel actions; independent corroboration would require third-party verification of arrests and outcomes, which is not present in these releases alone (DHS.gov press releases, 2025-12-30 to 2026-01-06).
Follow-up rationale: given ongoing announcements and the lack of a completion date, a year-end review would clarify whether the year concluded with a measurable expansion in arrests under this label (follow-up date: 2026-12-31).
Update · Jan 28, 2026, 12:00 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, aiming to arrest and remove individuals described as the most dangerous or high-priority targets.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with continued enforcement, highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses in early January 2026 (New Year’s Eve/Day arrests). The DHS press release provides specific names and jurisdictions for several cases, illustrating ongoing enforcement activity as the year begins (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Assessment of completion status: There is no completion for 2026 yet, and no final metric or deadline is provided by ICE. Given the nature of enforcement programs, placement of a year-long objective as ongoing activity suggests progress is underway but unfinished as of late January 2026. The available information indicates initial momentum rather than a completed program, aligning with an “in_progress” status.
Notes on sources and reliability: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026, from an official government channel, detailing explicit arrests and giving concrete examples. This is corroborated by subsequent reporting that cites ICE enforcement actions, though coverage varies in tone across outlets. In evaluating incentives, the agency frames these actions as targeted enforcement against violent crime and fraud among the unauthorized population.
Follow-up context: If monitoring through 2026 is required, a follow-up should track ICE’s quarterly or mid-year enforcement tallies, any new stated milestones, and whether the agency publishes a formal progress update on “worst of the worst” arrests with defined metrics (e.g., arrests/removals, categories of offenses, geographic distribution).
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 08:50 PMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE aims to carry out more 'worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public records show ICE and DHS issuing multiple press releases in January 2026 highlighting ongoing arrests under this framing, with no stated termination date. The stated objective appears to be a continued policy emphasis rather than a one-time action plan.
On January 2, 2026 DHS announced ICE would begin the year with continued progress removing the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, including individuals with convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS press release, 2026-01-02). This served as a kickoff to a sustained line of announcements rather than a one-off event.
A January 5, 2026 DHS release titled "
New Year, Same Mission: ICE Arrests More Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Murderers, Gang Members, and Rapists" detailed a significant staffing expansion and described weekend arrests of violent offenders, reinforcing the pledge of intensified enforcement (DHS press release, 2026-01-05). The release also quoted senior officials framing the effort as a continuation of prior enforcement trends.
Further DHS posts throughout January 2026—January 7, January 16, and January 23—continued to catalog arrests of individuals labeled as part of the 'worst of the worst' category, including cases involving murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, and gang involvement (DHS press releases, 2026-01-07, 2026-01-16, 2026-01-23). Taken together, these updates indicate an ongoing, large-scale emphasis rather than a completed milestone.
The reliability of the reporting rests on official DHS/ICE statements, which are inherently framed to emphasize enforcement results. Independent outlets sometimes scrutinize the classification of individuals as the 'worst of the worst,' particularly for those with pending or non-convicted charges, but the DHS/ICE chronology shows sustained activity in early 2026 (DHS press releases, 2026-01-02 to 2026-01-23; coverage from DHS pages summarized).
Overall, the available public record as of late January 2026 indicates progress in pursuing more arrests under the 'worst of the worst' framing, but no completion date has been set and the program remains in_progress rather than completed or canceled (DHS press releases, 2026-01-02 to 2026-01-23). A follow-up after a defined period would be needed to assess whether the intensity and scope persist through the year or if any changes in policy or reporting occur.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 06:53 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 emphasis on conducting “more worst of the worst arrests,” without a specific completion deadline or metric. The framing appears in a December 30, 2025 DHS release and has been echoed in early January 2026 messaging.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly highlighted arrests in early January 2026 of individuals convicted of severe crimes, aligning with the stated emphasis on “worst of the worst.” These announcements suggest sustained enforcement activity consistent with the2026 framing, rather than a completed program.
Status and milestones: The public record shows ongoing enforcement emphasis with periodic announcements, but no defined end date or numerical targets. January 2 and January 5, 2026 DHS communications reaffirm the year-start momentum and the same policy framing.
Reliability and caveats: The sources are official DHS/ICE releases, which provide authoritative statements on enforcement posture but lack transparent metrics or independent verification. Interpretations should account for potential political messaging around immigration enforcement and the absence of a formal completion criterion.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 04:08 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 a continued emphasis on arresting the so‑called “worst of the worst” among criminal illegal aliens, signaling more arrests of violent offenders during 2026. The language repeatedly framed these as prioritizations of high‑risk individuals rather than a general ramp‑up of all enforcement. The claim hinges on ongoing enforcement activity rather than a fixed completion date.
What progress is evident: DHS/ICE issued formal press releases on January 2 and January 5, 2026 noting arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, rape, and other violent or serious offenses (examples listed in the releases). These releases frame the arrests as part of a renewed effort at the start of 2026 and highlight specific cases and jurisdictions (e.g., TX, NJ, PA,
CA) to illustrate the scope.
Evidence of momentum: The January 2 release cites a “historic” staffing boost (including 12,000 new officers and agents) and asserts ongoing removals of violent offenders. The January 5 release similarly emphasizes continued removals across multiple states, listing numerous high‑risk offenders and claiming a broader initiative under the new year. Taken together, these releases indicate a policy push and a visible start to the year’s campaign.
Completed versus ongoing: There is no formal completion date or milestone that would mark the program as finished. The press releases describe ongoing arrests and a continuing campaign rather than a wrap‑up with a specific endpoint. Therefore, the status should be read as ongoing enforcement activity rather than a concluded project.
Reliability of sources and notes on incentives: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect the agency’s framing and messaging about priorities and staffing. While they provide concrete examples of arrests, these releases are designed to emphasize success and may understate any negative aspects or disputes about targeting. Independent corroboration from courts, local agencies, or independent investigations would strengthen assessment of effectiveness.
Contextual note on incentives: The releases reference substantial manpower increases (e.g., 12,000 new officers) and a political framing of protecting communities by prioritizing violent offenders. Understanding incentives helps interpret progress claims: staffing expansion and political messaging may amplify the perception of progress even if net removals or public safety outcomes require longer time to evaluate impartially.
Bottom line and reliability: Based on official DHS/ICE announcements to date, the claim that 2026 would see “more worst of the worst arrests” is being pursued as a continuing initiative with multiple arrests already reported in early January 2026. The status remains in_progress, pending further enforcement data and independent verification over the course of the year.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 02:11 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst.”
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE has issued multiple press releases in January 2026 announcing arrests of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst, including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, sexual exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking. These updates indicate ongoing enforcement actions early in 2026.
Current status: As of January 27, 2026, ICE appears to be actively carrying out arrests under this framing, but there is no published completion date or explicit overall target met for the year. The campaign is described as ongoing, with incremental arrests reported rather than a finalized tally.
Concrete milestones and dates: Notable reported items include early January 2026 arrests (e.g., offenses against children and violent crimes) and subsequent weekly updates through mid-January. Each DHS post documents new arrests across the country, but without a single, consolidated metric or completion benchmark.
Reliability and context: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases, which are official government communications. While these affirm ongoing enforcement activity, they may reflect the agency’s framing and priorities. Readers should consider the incentives of public agencies to emphasize arrests and public safety narratives when evaluating progress.
Bottom line: The claim has not been completed by late January 2026; rather, ICE appears to be pursuing the stated objective through ongoing arrests labeled as “worst of the worst.” Monitoring subsequent updates through February and beyond will determine whether a concrete completion or sustained trajectory emerges.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 12:09 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The source claimed DHS/ICE aims to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' in 2026. The DHS press release published at the start of 2026 states ICE began the year with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens and cites specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. This establishes an official, public pledge to pursue additional such arrests throughout 2026, without a fixed deadline or metric in the completion condition.
Evidence of initial progress appears in the same DHS release, which lists multiple arrests on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The page names several named individuals and their convictions, indicating concrete enforcement activity.
There is no published, firm completion date or metric in the DHS release. The stated condition is ongoing: additional arrests during 2026, with no numeric targets or deadlines provided, making it unclear when the objective would be deemed fully achieved.
Subsequent reporting from other outlets is limited in confirming independent verification of all arrests listed or broader aggregation of 2026 activity beyond the DHS release. The DHS source itself remains the primary document outlining the initiative and its initial arrests.
Reliability assessment: DHS.gov is the primary, official source for ICE enforcement announcements, enhancing credibility for the announced actions. Cross-checks with independent outlets show general alignment on the existence of the initiative, though they vary in emphasis and scope.
Overall assessment: progress toward the stated goal is underway with at least one public batch of arrests in early 2026, but because there is no defined completion metric or end date, the status remains best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 10:14 AMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE intends to carry out more “worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. Public DHS/ICE communications in early January 2026 frame 2026 as a year of intensified enforcement, citing ongoing arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst (DHS press release, 2026-01-02). ICE followed with a January 10, 2026 release detailing multiple high‑profile arrests in
Minnesota and elsewhere, reinforcing an ongoing enforcement trajectory (ICE press release, 2026-01-10). The completion condition remains undefined in official materials, with no specified end date or metrics, only a continuing activity narrative for 2026.
Evidence of progress includes announced arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses in the early days of 2026 (DHS/ICE releases, 2026-01-02; 2026-01-10). These releases demonstrate concrete actions aligned with the stated objective, but they do not establish a final completion or a quantified milestone. The absence of a formal completion date means the status should be read as ongoing rather than finished.
Reliability rests on official DHS/ICE communications, which are the authoritative records for this claim. Independent reporting has focused on enforcement patterns more broadly and should be weighed separately from the agency’s own framing of the metric as a continuing effort. At this point, the claim is supported by concrete initial actions but remains incomplete due to the lack of defined completion criteria.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 08:02 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst.'
Progress evidence: On January 2, 2026, ICE issued an official DHS press release announcing arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst'—including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud—marking a concrete start to the year’s stated objective. The release frames this as ongoing progress in removing high-risk criminal illegal aliens from communities.
Progress status: The January 2, 2026 release provides initial evidence of activity consistent with the claim, but there is no published completion metric, deadline, or end date. Subsequent reporting as of late January 2026 shows continued enforcement activity, but details are limited to selective arrest announcements and do not indicate a final or completed program endpoint.
Dates and milestones: The primary milestone publicly documented is the January 2, 2026 DHS release detailing specific arrests carried out around New Year’s Eve/Day. There is no later DHS statement specifying cumulative arrest totals, targets, or a completion point for 2026. Given the absence of a defined end date, the effort remains ongoing rather than completed.
Source reliability note: The principal source is a DHS/ICE press release, a primary and highly reliable government document. Some secondary outlets have repackaged the DHS information, but reliability varies; cross-verification with additional DHS updates would strengthen the timeline. Overall, the core claim is supported by official action early in 2026, with uncertainty about broader progress or final completion.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 04:21 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE signaled a New Year’s 2026 policy focus on conducting “more worst of the worst arrests” targeting individuals described as the most serious criminal illegal aliens. The source framing described the aim as a continuing effort into 2026, without a fixed deadline for completion.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, signaling the deployment of the stated strategy. The DHS release dated January 2, 2026 details numerous specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and Day, underscoring tangible action and a ramped-up emphasis on high-severity cases.
Current status and completion assessment: There is evidence of ongoing implementation at the start of 2026, but no formal completion milestone was provided or reached as of the initial report. The agency frames these actions as part of a broader continuing effort rather than a finite, completed target, so the claim remains in_progress rather than complete.
Source reliability and context: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides concrete arrest cases and agency statements. Coverage from other outlets may echo the claim but should be read with awareness of official framing and potential incentives to portray aggressive enforcement. Follow-up will be needed to verify sustained activity through 2026 and any shifts in targets or metrics.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 03:15 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of the ‘worst of the worst’ criminal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued formal announcements at the start of 2026 stating ongoing arrests of high‑risk offenders, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related violent crimes (January 2, 2026 release). Additional updates in the same month emphasize a significant manpower increase (reported as 120%) and continued targeting of violent offenders (January 7, 2026 release). Milestones: subsequent DHS posts in January 2026 document multiple arrests nationwide, with named cases across several states and offenses. Reliability: these are official DHS/ICE press releases, providing government-confirmed information on arrests and personnel changes; coverage across multiple DHS releases supports a continuous, though still ongoing, implementation timeline.
Update · Jan 27, 2026, 12:52 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE promise for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” among criminal illegal aliens, with no specific metric or deadline provided.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms ICE began 2026 with announced arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release highlights several named individuals and emphasizes continued removals during
the New Year period.
Current status as of 2026-01-26: ICE has publicly documented initial arrests at the start of 2026, indicating ongoing enforcement activity aligned with the stated objective. There is no published completion date or final metric, so the effort remains in the implementation phase rather than completed.
Milestones and scope: The January 2 release provides concrete examples of cases and jurisdictions (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California) as part of the early 2026 actions. These first arrests establish a baseline but do not establish a final count, deadline, or end-state for the year.
Source reliability and incentives: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, making it the clearest primary source for the claim and its progress. As with enforcement-focused statements, readers should note potential incentives to portray ongoing enforcement as progress; independent data on total annual arrests and long-term outcomes would help gauge ultimate impact. Further updates from DHS/ICE over the year would be needed to assess final completion.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 10:31 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE purportedly aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling an expanded effort to arrest individuals characterized as the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The initial articulation of this aim appeared in late December 2025 and was reiterated in early January 2026 through ICE/DHS communications. The claim’s framing emphasizes heightened enforcement against high-severity cases including homicide, sexual crimes against children, and violent offenses.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly announced continued 2026 operations beginning January 2026, detailing multiple high-profile arrests (e.g., convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and noting a manpower increase to support the effort. Between January 2 and January 6, 2026, DHS pages enumerate several arrests and the deployment of additional officers, framing these as steps in the ongoing program. Independent outlets have echoed the agency’s counts, but the primary evidence remains ICE/DHS press releases.
Current status vs. completion: As of January 26, 2026, ICE had publicly initiated the 2026 push with ongoing arrests and the stated intent to remove “the worst of the worst” from communities. There is no published, firm completion date or final metric; the completion condition remains contingent on the annual cadence of arrests and removals throughout 2026. Given the ongoing nature of the announcements, the status is best described as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 release announcing the start of 2026 arrests, the January 5 release highlighting manpower increases and weekend arrests, and subsequent updates listing individuals convicted of severe offenses. These items establish a pattern of ongoing activity rather than a single, discrete endpoint. The sources are DHS.gov official press releases and pages.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary sources are U.S. DHS/ICE official press releases, which provide the agency’s framing and list specific arrests. While these sources are authoritative for policy statements, they reflect the agency’s enforcement priorities and messaging. Independent analyses (e.g., think tanks, academic work) suggest the broader debate about ICE methodologies and incentives, but the current material supports an ongoing enforcement campaign rather than a finalized outcome.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 08:15 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to carry out more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress includes a January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release describing ongoing arrests of individuals deemed among the worst offenders as the year begins, indicating continued enforcement activity. There is no published completion metric or deadline, and while early-year actions show movement toward the pledge, the status remains ongoing rather than finished.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 06:26 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The public messaging emphasizes continuing removals of individuals with heinous criminal histories.
Evidence of progress: ICE announced the start of 2026 with targeted arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS ICE press release, 2026-01-02). A subsequent DHS release on January 5 highlighted a significant manpower increase (over 12,000 new officers) and ongoing arrests of murderers, gang members, and sex offenders (DHS press release, 2026-01-05). Additional ICE reporting in early January referenced dozens of arrests nationwide, reinforcing an ongoing push through the first days of the year (ICE news releases, January 2026).
Current status and milestones: There is ongoing, multi-week reporting of arrests labeled as 'worst of the worst' with concrete cases listed by ICE and DHS. The projects so far include weekend and weekday operations across states, with named individuals and charges in public DHS/ICE releases. No final completion date is provided; the narrative remains anchored to year-start actions and expanded manpower rather than a closed milestone.
Reliability and incentives: All cited material comes from U.S. DHS/ICE official communications, which are primary sources describing policy priorities and operational results. The rhetoric and selected case examples reflect DHS/ICE incentives to portray aggressive enforcement and public safety gains, a factor researchers should consider when evaluating completeness or impact. There is no independent, neutral metric provided in these releases to verify the overall scope or end-state of the program aside from the ongoing arrest announcements.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 04:02 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests in 2026. Evidence of the stated aim appears in DHS/ICE communications, which frame 2026 as a year to intensify enforcement against the most serious criminal illegal aliens. A January 2026 DHS piece explicitly calls for “more worst of the worst arrests,” linking the policy stance to increased manpower and ongoing enforcement goals. The claim’s completion condition—ongoing arrests throughout 2026—remains inherently time-bound and contingent on year-long enforcement activity.
Evidence of progress: By early January 2026, DHS/ICE public-facing material described a substantial uptick in enforcement capacity, including a reported 120% increase in manpower. The January 5, 2026 DHS release enumerates arrests of individuals convicted of violent offenses and other serious crimes, framed as the continuation of the prior year’s effort. This establishes a concrete start to the stated objective and signals ongoing operations through 2026. No final metric or year-end tally is provided yet, given the ongoing nature of the year.
Assessment of status: The claim remains in_progress as of 2026-01-26. The agency has publicly reiterated the aim and has initiated higher-intensity arrest activity, but there is no completed milestone or closure date indicating the objective’s full fulfillment. Given the lack of a defined completion metric, the status hinges on continued enforcement actions throughout 2026. Independent verification of total arrests by year-end would be needed to label the effort complete.
Dates and milestones: The source material anchors the start of the intensified effort to early January 2026, with a formal publication on January 5, 2026 highlighting a manpower increase and weekend arrests. The initial list of described cases illustrates the type of targets emphasized (violent offenses, gang affiliations, serious crimes). No final completion date is set, consistent with a rolling enforcement program across the year.
Reliability and context of sources: The report relies on official DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages, which are primary sources for policy direction and enforcement posture. These communications explicitly align with pro-enforcement narratives and do not present independent corroboration of arrest counts from third-party outlets. Given the governmental origin, they are reliable for stating policy intent, though readers should watch for evolving metrics and potential political framing.
Follow-up note: If you’d like, I can track year-end DHS/ICE press releases and summarize whether the 2026 objective produced a measurable uptick in arrests and whether the agency provided a completion assessment.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 02:14 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The claim frames this as an ongoing annual objective with no specific metrics or deadlines. The article metadata provided characterizes the aim as a broad, headline-driven policy stance rather than a fixed expenditure or quota. The status assessment relies on official DHS/ICE communications rather than third-party interpretation.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced in early 2026 that it began the year with continued removals of what it calls the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses (Jan 2, 2026 release). Subsequent DHS communications reiterate that arrests continued over the weekend and into January, with additional high-profile cases and detailed arrest records posted (Jan 5, 2026 release). These official briefings indicate active enforcement aligned with the stated objective, including a reported substantial manpower increase (over 12,000 officers) referenced in one release. The sources are DHS press materials published on .gov domains, which function as primary government statements.
Progress status and milestones: The DHS/ICE announcements frame 2026 as a continuation and expansion of prior removal efforts, noting increases in staffing and ongoing arrests of individuals with serious criminal histories. However, there are no published, independently verifiable completion metrics, deadlines, or end-points in the DHS releases. The material provides concrete examples of individuals arrested in specific jurisdictions and charges, but it does not establish a formal completion condition or a final milestone for the stated goal. Overall, the record suggests ongoing activity rather than a completed program step or finish line.
Reliability and context: The reporting relies on official DHS/ICE press releases (DHS.gov) as the primary sources, which are authoritative for policy statements and agency actions but may emphasize achievements and downplay unrelated factors. Independent outlets and analyses in other reputable outlets corroborate the trend of increased enforcement rhetoric but may vary in interpretation of the program’s impact and scope. Given the incentive structure of the agency and the administration, the materials should be read with attention to potential framing around public safety messaging and policy priorities.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 12:16 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE purportedly aims to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, framed as a
New Year’s resolution for the year. The source language comes from a DHS/ICE communications brief at the start of 2026. The claim centers on expanding arrests of high-severity criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: On January 2, 2026, ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests described as removing “the worst of the worst” including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The DHS release lists several named cases and emphasizes continued enforcement activity. This indicates ongoing execution of the stated objective.
Completion status: There is evidence of ongoing arrests in early 2026, but no final deadline or numeric target is published. The stated completion condition—arrests throughout 2026 without a defined end point—supports an ongoing status rather than a completed or failed status. Public DHS communications through early 2026 do not indicate a stop or wrap-up of these efforts within the year.
Dates and milestones: The Jan 2, 2026 DHS release marks a concrete milestone—the formal announcement of intensified arrests at the year’s start. The release enumerates specific cases, reinforcing a milestone-oriented framing for the year. Further milestones will depend on additional ICE actions and future DHS updates.
Reliability and context: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, a direct instrument of policy and enforcement communications. While the wording emphasizes severity and “worst of the worst,” corroboration from independent records (court filings, local reporting) would strengthen verification of case outcomes. The content reflects ICE’s incentive to demonstrate enforcement activity and public-safety messaging within the broader policy debate. (DHS 2026-01-02)
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 10:36 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article claimed DHS/ICE would carry out more "worst of the worst" arrests in 2026. Evidence from DHS indicates the agency started 2026 with continued emphasis on arresting individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' and issued multiple arrest notices in January 2026 (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-07; DHS 2026-01-14; DHS 2026-01-21; DHS 2026-01-23).
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 08:02 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” targeting highly criminal illegal aliens, including child sexual abuse and murder cases. This was publicly announced via DHS/ICE in early January 2026.
Progress evidence: DHS announced the 2026 initiative on January 2, 2026, detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. ICE followed with a January 10, 2026 press release highlighting multiple high‑profile arrests in
Minnesota and other locations.
Current status and milestones: By January 25, 2026, ICE reported ongoing enforcement actions under the 2026 framing, with publicized arrests in the first days of the year and a continued emphasis on the “worst of the worst.” There is no published completion date or formal metric, so the status remains in_progress rather than complete.
Reliability and context: Official DHS/ICE communications provide the primary basis for the claim, including explicit language about the 2026 objective and named arrests. Independent reporting in this period largely reiterates the framing and describes incidents, but does not establish independent verification of a sustained, measurable program beyond initial actions.
Follow-up rationale: Continued monitoring of ICE press releases through 2026 will determine whether the program sustains arrests at scale, expands to additional jurisdictions, or publishes measurable targets. A future update should confirm whether any formal milestones or completion criteria materialize.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 04:01 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst,” implying intensified enforcement targeting the most serious criminal illegal entrants.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with renewed enforcement, including arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) in multiple jurisdictions. The DHS release dated January 2, 2026, provides a concrete roll of individuals arrested as part of the initial wave of operations for the year.
Current status and milestones: As of late January 2026, ICE and DHS continued to publicize ongoing operations framed around removing high-risk offenders described as the “worst of the worst,” with additional local and state activity reported in subsequent DHS briefings and outlets. While multiple arrests have been highlighted, there is no formal, published completion date or metric, consistent with an ongoing enforcement effort rather than a single completed milestone.
Reliability and context: The primary sources are DHS/ICE official releases, which explicitly frame arrests in terms of criminal severity and threat to communities. Independent outlets have echoed the DHS framing, but the core factual basis rests on DHS press statements listing individuals and charges. The incentives for DHS to emphasize “worst of the worst” arrests align with national immigration enforcement narratives and public safety messaging.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 01:56 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE aim is to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, continuing the early-2026 framing from ICE’s enforcement narrative. Source: DHS/ICE press release dated Jan 2, 2026 announcing continued arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. The release presents enforcement actions at year start as evidence of ongoing effort rather than a completed objective.
Evidence of progress: The DHS release lists several arrests on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses across multiple states. This demonstrates concrete enforcement actions early in 2026.
Current status and completion prospects: There is no stated deadline or quantitative metric in the release, and no year-end tally. The completion condition—conducting additional arrests of the “worst of the worst” during 2026—remains in progress as of 2026-01-25, with ongoing operations anticipated.
Reliability and context: The source is an official DHS/ICE press release, lending credibility to reported arrests and stated objectives. As with official enforcement announcements, interpret with awareness of potential framing and incentives in communications about crime and removal.
Bottom line: The claim is underway but not completed as of January 2026; continued updates are needed to assess full-year progress and total arrests. Follow-up date: 2026-12-31.
Update · Jan 26, 2026, 12:07 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, continuing the previous year’s framing of targeting the most dangerous individuals. The source framing ties the promise to a
New Year’s message from ICE and DHS, with a press release highlighting a heightened emphasis on arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes.
Progress evidence: ICE published a formal announcement on January 2, 2026 detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The press release documents specific cases and names, underscoring an intent to pursue high-severity targets at the start of the year. This represents an initial, concrete step consistent with the pledge, but it is a single-day snapshot rather than a progress trend.
Status assessment: There is no publicly stated completion metric, deadline, or end date for the 2026 initiative. Because the claim hinges on ongoing, presumably cumulative enforcement activity throughout 2026, a determination of “complete” cannot be made yet; the available information shows early momentum but not finality. Given the absence of a defined end state, the current status remains best characterized as in_progress.
Source reliability note: The primary and most reliable documentation comes from the official DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026. Coverage from secondary outlets varies in framing, and some outlets contextualize the policy in broader political terms. For ongoing accuracy, follow-up DHS/ICE updates and annual enforcement summaries should be consulted as milestones are reached.
Follow-up note: If available, a year-end enforcement report or quarterly ICE enforcement update in 2026 would clarify whether the targeted “worst of the worst” arrests achieved a measurable completion threshold or simply continued through the year.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 10:03 PMin_progress
What the claim stated: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year of “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified enforcement push targeting the most serious criminal aliens. The February 2025 article you cited appears to be a misdated mirror; the verifiable public claim rests on ICE and DHS materials issued for 2026 rather than 2025.
Progress evidence: On January 2, 2026, DHS published a press release announcing that ICE would ring in 2026 with continued progress in removing the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, including specific arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes. The release listed multiple named individuals and jurisdictions as of New Year’s Eve/Day.
Current status of completion: The ICE push appears to have begun as described, with early arrests publicized in early January 2026. There is no formal end-date provided in the initial statement, and enforcement efforts are described as ongoing rather than completed within a single milestone. Independent reporting later noted some arrests tied to individuals who were already in custody, which introduces nuances about incremental “new” removals versus re-labeled enforcement actions.
Milestones and dates: Key milestone reported is the January 2, 2026 DHS news release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day and naming specific individuals and offenses. Ongoing updates would be expected through 2026 as ICE expands enforcement actions under the same framing. No published completion date was provided by DHS for this initiative.
Reliability and incentives: The primary source is a
U.S. federal government agency (DHS/ICE), which strengthens reliability for the stated actions. Some follow-up reporting highlights discrepancies regarding whether all named individuals were newly apprehended versus recharacterized or previously in custody, suggesting a need for ongoing verification. The outlets provide a neutral, policy-focused framing, with additional scrutiny from local/state reporting where applicable.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 07:53 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an ongoing enforcement push against top-tier criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: Official DHS/ICE releases in early January 2026 described continued arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, as well as the deployment of additional personnel to support enforcement efforts.
Current status and milestones: ICE reported hiring increases (over 12,000 officers) and multiple nationwide arrests at year’s start, but there is no published end-date or hard completion metric; the effort remains framed as ongoing for 2026.
Source reliability: The information derives from DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages, which are primary sources for agency policy and enforcement updates, though they do not present a formal completion date or a single performance metric.
Assessment: Based on official communications, the goal to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026 appears underway but remains in_progress as of 2026-01-25, with ongoing announcements and staffing changes.
Notes on context: While the outlets cited are official, the claim’s framing reflects a policy narrative centered on aggressive enforcement; independent validation would require broader data on arrests, removals, and recidivism beyond agency press releases.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 06:29 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 objective to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE released a January 2, 2026 update describing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses as examples of the initiative in 2026.
Additional corroboration: A January 6, 2026 DHS/ICE release reiterates the ongoing entry into 2026 with expanded manpower and continued focus on the same category of offenders.
Progress assessment: By 2026-01-25 there is evidence of ongoing arrests and enforcement framing, but no final milestone or completion date is set; the program remains active without a declared end date.
Source reliability: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which provide primary statements of policy and specific arrest cases, though they reflect agency framing and do not offer an independent, comprehensive tally.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 03:58 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim was that in 2026 they would carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” building on the 2025 wave of arrests of individuals labeled as the most dangerous criminal aliens. The source article and the related DHS materials present this as a
New Year’s resolution and ongoing enforcement posture for 2026.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release announcing the start of 2026 with arrests targeting individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud). The release lists multiple named individuals and their convictions, framed as part of the continued removal of “the worst of the worst” from communities. This constitutes an early milestone consistent with the stated aim.
Progress assessment: There is evidence of initial arrests and public announcements, but no formal completion metric or end-date is provided in the statements. Because the claim centers on ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed target, the status remains that of an ongoing effort rather than a finished program.
Dates and milestones: The December 30, 2025 article framed the goal for 2026, and the January 2, 2026 DHS press release marks an explicit kickoff with multiple arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day. The named cases span several jurisdictions and crime types, illustrating an early implementation of the stated objective.
Reliability and sources: The key sources are DHS/ICE press releases on DHS.gov, which are the authoritative documents for this claim. While the phrasing—such as the “New Year’s resolution” language—may be unusual for government communications, the documented arrests and dates appear to be real announcements. Cross-checking with independent outlets is limited by coverage; DHS releases provide the primary verification.
Follow-up note: The current status should be monitored through regular DHS/ICE press releases or related DHS updates to determine whether the arrest drive continues at a similar pace, expands, or encounters any policy/operational changes. A final assessment should consider whether any formal completion criteria or benchmarks are established.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 01:59 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided. The article frames this as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026. It asserts an intent to prioritize arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst.”
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated 2025-12-30 frames the pledge as ongoing for 2026, citing arrests of violent criminals including child-related offenses. A subsequent ICE press release in early January 2026 highlights arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of murder, child rape, and other crimes, indicating continued enforcement activity and publicizing select cases.
Completion status: There is no stated completion condition or milestone in the pledge. While individual arrests are reported, there is no official publication of a final or cumulative 2026 tally or a declared wrap-up date. The status as of late January 2026 remains characterized by ongoing actions rather than a completed program.
Evidence quality and caveats: Official DHS/ICE releases provide concrete examples of arrests but often emphasize select cases rather than comprehensive metrics. Media coverage includes follow-on reporting but must be weighed against potential messaging incentives from enforcement agencies. Overall reliability is highest for the primary agency releases, with independent analyses varying in interpretation of “worst of the worst.”
Incentives and context: The claimed policy emphasizes public safety and removal of high-risk offenders, aligning with ICE’s stated mission. However, the lack of quantitative metrics means progress is difficult to verify comprehensively. The ongoing narrative may reflect political and administrative incentives to portray strong enforcement actions.
Status note: Based on available public records, the claim remains in_progress as of 2026-01-25, with ongoing arrests and publicity rather than a completed, verifiable milestone.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 12:04 PMin_progress
The claim asserts that DHS/ICE aimed to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026 as a
New Year’s resolution. Public-facing ICE and DHS materials in early 2026 indicate ongoing enforcement actions framed around high-priority criminal illegal aliens, including multiple January 2026 press releases about targeted arrests. There is no published completion metric or deadline indicating a final target or completion date for these arrests. The material shows ongoing operations and daily updates, not a closed-end commitment. Official sources emphasize ongoing capacity-building and high-priority removals rather than a completed, time-bound goal. There is limited corroboration outside official agency reporting that would quantify a final milestone or verify completion.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 10:18 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. The target remained broad and non-metric, with no formal completion date provided.
Evidence of progress: ICE issued multiple public updates in January 2026 announcing arrests described as the “worst of the worst,” including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, rape, kidnapping, arson, and other violent offenses (DHS press releases dated Jan 2, Jan 5, Jan 6, Jan 14). The releases repeatedly frame these actions as ongoing efforts as the year begins.
Assessment of completion status: There is evidence of ongoing arrests labeled as part of the initiative, but no official completion criteria or end date is provided. Given the absence of a defined milestone or deadline, the situation is best described as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Dates and milestones: Jan 2, 2026 – initial batch highlighted; Jan 5, 2026 – expanded arrests including homicide and other crimes; Jan 6, 2026 – manpower expansion and additional cases; Jan 14, 2026 – continued arrests including child rape and homicide cases. These marks show continued execution rather than finalization.
Source reliability and framing: The core sources are U.S. Department of Homeland Security press releases, which are official statements from DHS/ICE. While these releases emphasize arrests of severe offenses, they reflect the agency’s framing and do not provide independent corroboration of impact on neighborhoods or long-term outcomes. Context from independent outlets appears limited or mixed regarding broader effects or enforcement balance.
Follow-up note: The claim hinges on the continuation of ICE’s “worst of the worst” arrests throughout 2026; a systematic year-end recap or quarterly progress report from DHS/ICE would help verify ongoing progress and any shifts in strategy.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 07:59 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more arrests of the so‑called "worst of the worst" during 2026, signaling an expanded enforcement push at the start of the year.
Progress evidence: DHS published a January 2, 2026 press release announcing ICE’s
New Year’s arrests targeting individuals convicted of grave offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This establishes that the stated objective was being operationalized at the outset of 2026. Subsequent reporting in January 2026 highlighted continued enforcement activity in various jurisdictions, suggesting an ongoing ramp‑up beyond the initial announcements.
Assessment of completion status: There is no final completion date or metric provided, and enforcement activity appears to be ongoing rather than completed. The absence of a defined milestone means the completion condition could not be met within a fixed timeframe; instead, progress hinges on continued enforcement actions throughout 2026.
Key milestones and dates: The DHS ICE press release was dated January 2, 2026, detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. Media coverage in the following weeks described additional enforcement actions in states such as
Maine, indicating that the program entered a sustained enforcement phase during January 2026. The absence of a projected end date leaves the initiative’s end to be determined by year‑long results.
Reliability and caveats: The primary source for the claim is an official DHS ICE press release, which is a direct product of the agency responsible for the policy. Independent reporting in regional outlets corroborates that enforcement actions continued into January 2026, though coverage varies by locality and perspective. Given the policy’s political sensitivity, readers should note potential incentives in framing and emphasis when evaluating statements from law‑enforcement leadership and allied commentators.
Overall note: The claim that ICE would conduct more arrests of the "worst of the worst" in 2026 is currently supported by early‑year enforcement actions and ongoing activity, but a final completion is not yet verifiable as of January 24, 2026. The initiative appears to be in the early, ongoing phase rather than finished.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 03:57 AMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE claim that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” and a sustained emphasis on cracking down on the most serious criminal illegal migrants.
Evidence of progress: The DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 publicly formalizes the shift, citing a 120% increase in manpower and announcing that ICE would target homicide, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, rape, and other severe crimes. It provides specific examples from that weekend of arrests, and ties the plan to “more than 12,000 new officers and agents.”
Current status: There is no formal completion milestone or end date announced; the release describes ongoing operations and an expanded enforcement posture for 2026 rather than a concluded program. The framing suggests an active, continuing effort rather than a finished product.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone is the January 5, 2026 DHS release, which details the manpower increase and lists individual arrests from the preceding weekend. The document does not establish a final target number of arrests or a completion date.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which is authoritative for policy posture and stated goals. As with any enforcement-focused update, it reflects institutional incentives to emphasize crime control and border enforcement; readers should consider broader policy context and potential political motivations behind “worst of the worst” framing when assessing impact.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 01:53 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling an ongoing intensification of enforcement targeting high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes as part of intensified enforcement. On January 14, 2026, ICE issued a
Minnesota operation summary listing multiple arrests described as among the “worst of the worst,” indicating continued operations under this framing.
Current status: By January 24, 2026, ICE appears to be actively conducting operations that fit the claim’s framing, with national and regional releases documenting arrests tied to the “worst of the worst” label. There is no published completion date or quantified annual target attached to the pledge, suggesting ongoing activity rather than a finalized program.
Milestones and interpretation: The January 2 national release and January 14 Minnesota operation constitute concrete milestones signaling initiation and ongoing execution of the policy aim. The absence of a defined metric or deadline means reliability hinges on periodic updates and continued enforcement actions rather than a finite, auditable deadline. Overall, available official statements indicate partial progress rather than final completion.
Source reliability note: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which provide direct statements of policy intent and execution. Supplementary reporting from other outlets varies in framing; however, the core progress comes from the DHS/ICE press releases, which are appropriate for assessing status in this case.
Update · Jan 25, 2026, 12:03 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” implying an expanded effort to arrest highly dangerous or violent noncitizens.
Progress evidence: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces the continuation of “the new year with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This confirms a concrete start to the promised effort in 2026 (DHS/ICE, Jan 2, 2026).
Current status: The January 2026 announcement lists multiple individuals arrested on New Year’s Eve/Day, indicating that the program is actively pursuing the stated targets. The release does not provide a formal completion date or a finished metric, consistent with an ongoing, year-long effort rather than a single completion event.
Reliability and context: The reporting comes directly from a DHS/ICE official press release, a primary source for agency actions. While the outlet’s stance is aligned with ICE enforcement priorities, the information is a straightforward account of arrests and does not include independent verification of all background details. The source is appropriate for tracking the stated policy/activity, though broader independent criminal background verification would strengthen assessment.
Follow-up: Monitor ICE (dhs.gov) updates through 2026 for monthly/quarterly arrest tallies and any formal progress milestones or policy changes related to the “worst of the worst” arrests program. Follow-up date: 2026-12-31.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 10:01 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. The phrase reflects an enforcement posture described by ICE at the start of the year. It implies a continued focus on high-severity criminal illegal aliens among ICE arrests in 2026.
Public reporting and official DHS communications confirm ICE actions at the start of 2026 aligned with this framing. On January 2, 2026, ICE published a press release announcing arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses and describing these as part of removing the "worst of the worst" criminals from communities.
As of late January 2026, there is evidence of ongoing enforcement activity and messaging from ICE about prioritizing dangerous offenders, but there is no published, finalized completion metric or end date for the stated goal. The completion condition remains ambiguous in public records.
Public sources rely on official ICE statements and press releases for this framing. While independent analyses discuss arrest counts and detainee composition, the DHS release provides explicit examples and reinforces the stated policy posture for 2026.
Overall, the claim appears to reflect a policy stance for 2026 rather than a completed program with a defined end date. Progress is observable in individual high-profile arrests and ongoing enforcement rhetoric, but a definitive completion status has not been publicly established to date.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 07:53 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The claim originated from a DHS press release that framed 2026 as a continuation of ICE's efforts to remove high-severity offenders (DHS 2025-12-30; ICE context carried into 2026 DHS posts).
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE has publicly announced multiple new arrests in early 2026 that fit the stated framing. A January 2, 2026 DHS post highlights ICE arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, marking a continuation of the prior year’s emphasis into the new year (DHS 2026-01-02). Additional updates on January 5 and January 14 describe further arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses, including child rape, homicide, arson, and other violent crimes (DHS 2026-01-05; DHS 2026-01-14).
Status of completion: There is no explicit completion date or metric in the DHS statements. The agency repeatedly frames the effort as ongoing, with new arrests announced as they occur. Given the lack of a defined endpoint, the current trajectory can be characterized as ongoing progress rather than a completed program (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05; DHS 2026-01-14).
Milestones and dates: Key milestones cited by DHS include the arrest announcements on January 2 (
New Year’s arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud) and follow-up arrests on January 5 and January 14 detailing additional high-severity cases across multiple jurisdictions (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05; DHS 2026-01-14). These dates establish a pattern of ongoing enforcement actions early in 2026.
Source reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which provide direct statements of enforcement actions and officer safety framing. While these releases emphasize public safety and public-interest incentives, readers should note the agency’s use of provocative framing like “worst of the worst” and its potential to influence public perception and policy emphasis. Overall, the reporting is consistent across multiple DHS pages in January 2026.
Bottom line: The claim is partially supported at present: ICE is actively pursuing and publicizing arrests described as targeting severe offenders in 2026, with several confirmed arrests announced in early January 2026. However, there is no formal completion date or final metric, so the status remains “in_progress” rather than complete or failed. Follow-up will be warranted as DHS continues to publish new arrests and any changes in policy or metrics emerge. (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05; DHS 2026-01-14)
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 06:19 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, following ICE’s 2025 wrap-up. The statement explicitly framed 2026 as a continuation and expansion of prior efforts targeting individuals labeled as the most dangerous or violent offenders among illegal aliens. Evidence reviewed from DHS confirms the policy framing and explicit
New Year’s pledge as of late December 2025 and early January 2026.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly signaled intensified effort entering 2026, including a January 5, 2026 update describing a 120% increase in manpower and ongoing arrests of individuals described as the "worst of the worst" (e.g., homicide, rape, gang membership). The release cites weekend arrests and emphasizes scale-up rather than a completed endpoint. This indicates ongoing operations rather than a finished program.
Status assessment: As of January 24, 2026, there is public evidence of continued arrests under the same framing, with no formal completion date or reported end to the initiative. The available DHS communications frame the policy as an ongoing enforcement posture for 2026, not a completed milestone, and do not indicate a termination or narrowing of scope.
Source reliability note: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages, which reflect official agency statements. While they provide the framing and numbers the agencies choose to publish, independent verification of arrest counts and individual cases is limited and often contested in broader debates about ICE enforcement.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 03:57 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE statement that the agency aims to carry out more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' in 2026, expanding on a 2025-identified group of high-risk criminal illegal aliens. The source framing originated from a DHS news release announcing
New Year arrests and calling for continued enforcement into 2026. The claim implies a sustained, broader effort without a defined completion metric or deadline.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that it began the year with arrests described as targeting ‘the worst of the worst,’ listing individuals convicted of crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The DHS press release attributes these arrests to ongoing ICE enforcement efforts at the start of 2026 (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Progress details: The January 2026 DHS release provides concrete examples of individuals arrested and identified as criminal illegal aliens, including locations and specific convictions. This corroborates that ICE is actively pursuing high-severity cases and expanding enforcement actions consistent with the stated aim to arrest more high-risk individuals.
Completion status: There is no provided completion date or metric indicating a final target for 2026. The January 2026 DHS update describes ongoing operations rather than a completed program, which aligns with a status of in_progress rather than complete or failed. The absence of a fixed deadline means progress will be assessed periodically through subsequent DHS/ICE updates.
Source reliability and limits: The primary, verifiable source is an official DHS press release (DHS.gov) dated January 2, 2026, which directly quotes ICE and lists arrests. Secondary coverage from outlets reflecting the claim relies on reformulations of the DHS release; however, those sources vary in depth and accuracy. The official government document provides the most authoritative baseline for status, though it does not provide a comprehensive, long-term metric for the year.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 02:01 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 goal to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The source framing is from DHS/ICE press releases tying the new year to intensified enforcement actions. The language is a public-facing statement from the agency, not an independent audit or policy change explanation.
Evidence of progress: Public DHS releases in early January 2026 describe new-year arrest activity targeting individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, drug offenses) and note a large-scale staffing expansion (reporting over 12,000 new ICE officers). These posts show ongoing enforcement actions and a ramped-up capacity at the start of 2026 (Jan 2 and Jan 6, 2026 releases).
Status of completion: There is no fixed completion date or metric provided; the goal is framed as an ongoing effort through 2026 with continual arrests of the category labeled “worst of the worst.” Subsequent updates in January 2026 reiterate continued arrests, but no end date or milestone schedule is published in the agency releases.
Dates and milestones: December 30, 2025 (the lead-in to 2026), January 2, 2026 (new-year arrests kickoff), and January 6, 2026 (continuation with a manpower increase) provide concrete milestones showing momentum but not a culmination date. The absence of a defined end date means progress should be assessed over time rather than as a single completion event.
Reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary for the claim but use promotional framing consistent with enforcement objectives. Readers should note the political messaging and potential incentives to present intensified enforcement as progress; independent verification (e.g., arrest counts, case outcomes, or court records) would help contextualize the broader impact of these arrests.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 12:18 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE target for 2026 is to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that the agency would pursue increased arrests of high-risk individuals, aided by a reported manpower boost (over 12,000 new officers and agents). Initial arrests announced for January 2–5, 2026 included individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, fraud, and other serious offenses, indicating a focus on severe criminal cases.
Milestones and ongoing status: The January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 DHS press releases itemize specific cases and geographic locations where arrests occurred, signaling the start of the year-long effort. There is no published completion date or metric indicating when the program ends; the operational timeline appears to be ongoing through 2026.
Progress assessment: While early arrests demonstrate activity consistent with the stated aim, the information is limited to initial arrests and a broad, self-described target. Without a defined end date or measurable benchmarks, it remains unclear how progress will be evaluated across the year.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which provide direct, verifiable statements of policy and arrest activity. As with any government communications, readers should weigh potential political framing and incentive structures, but the releases do not present independent corroboration beyond the agency’s own reporting.
Bottom line: The claim is currently characterized as in_progress, with concrete early arrests and an expanded manpower claim supporting ongoing activity in 2026. A comprehensive assessment would require monitoring ICE arrest data and official updates throughout the year. Follow-up at year-end 2026 would clarify whether the goal yielded sustained, measurable increases in 'worst of the worst' arrests.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 10:17 AMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 is to carry out more “worst of the worst” arrests, expanding the targeting of criminal illegal aliens perceived as the most dangerous. The source framing explicitly tied the promise to a calendar-year objective, with the line: “Our New Year’s resolution for 2026: more worst of the worst arrests.” (DHS press release, 12/30/2025)
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE began 2026 with public announcements of arrests tied to the “worst of the worst” category. A DHS press release dated 01/02/2026 reports ICE arresting individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses as part of a
New Year push. This indicates initial execution of the stated objective and a continuing enforcement posture. (DHS press release, 01/02/2026)
Current status: As of 2026-01-23, ICE has publicly documented multiple arrests under the defined framing, suggesting the programmatic aim is underway rather than completed. There is no completion date or metric provided, so the status remains ongoing activity rather than final fulfillment. (DHS press releases, 12/30/2025; 01/02/2026)
Dates and milestones: The December 30, 2025 release marks the declaration of the 2026 priority, and the January 2, 2026 release provides concrete arrest examples and personnel statements. These establish a start-of-year milestone, with ongoing enforcement action expected throughout 2026. No end-date or success threshold is published in the DHS materials. (DHS, 12/30/2025; 01/02/2026)
Reliability note: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases from official government channels, which document the agency’s framing and specific arrest cases. While the wording uses sensational terms like “worst of the worst,” the citations pertain to arrests tied to criminal offenses and serial reporting by ICE. Readers should note the spokespeople’s framing reflects enforcement messaging and incentive structures rather than independent corroboration from neutral third parties. (DHS press releases, 12/30/2025; 01/02/2026)
Follow-up note: Given the ongoing nature of the program, a reasonable follow-up date is 2026-12-31 to assess whether the stated completion condition—explicit metrics or a conclusion to the 2026 campaign—has been defined and reached.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 07:53 AMcomplete
The claim states that DHS/ICE planned to conduct more “worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. Public, official confirmation of this direction appears in DHS press coverage at the start of 2026. DHS/ICE described beginning the year with continued removal of individuals categorized as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
There is additional evidence of ongoing activity in 2026, including ICE’s reporting of arrests of dozens of criminal illegal aliens convicted of murder, child rape, and other crimes in
Minnesota (ICE press release, 2026-01-10). The agency framed these operations as part of persistent enforcement against violent and serious offenders.
Taken together, these official communications indicate that ICE initiated and continued executing high-profile enforcement actions in 2026 consistent with the stated objective to pursue the “worst of the worst” arrests. While the program’s full scope and metrics are not published in advance, the reported arrests demonstrate progress toward the stated completion condition.
Reliability: the sources are official government communications (DHS and ICE press releases), which are primary data points for this claim. Independent coverage from reputable outlets aligns with the agencies’ statements, though opinions on policy impacts vary. (DHS 2026-01-02; ICE 2026-01-10)
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 04:25 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced ongoing enforcement into 2026, including arrests announced on New Year’s Eve/Day and subsequent releases detailing additional high-severity cases across states.
Progress toward completion: The announcements show an active enforcement program with named individuals and jurisdictions but do not provide a final tally, metric, deadline, or stated end date for 2026; the effort appears ongoing.
Dates and milestones: Initial kickoff around Jan 2, 2026, with follow-up releases around Jan 5 and Jan 14, 2026 highlighting more arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst'.
Source reliability and framing: The information comes from official DHS/ICE communications, primary sources for policy and enforcement actions; readers should consider potential messaging incentives while monitoring independent outcomes throughout the year.
Follow-up note: Reassess progress after 2026-12-31 to determine whether the program met any completion criteria or evolved further.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 02:43 AMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE stated a goal for 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the prior year’s emphasis on arrests of high‑risk criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that the agency would pursue intensified enforcement, including arrests of individuals characterized as the worst of the worst (e.g., murderers, gang members, and violent offenders); a January 5, 2026 DHS press release highlighted ongoing arrests and a larger workforce. Additional DHS postings in early January framed the initiative as a continuation of the prior year’s trajectory under a broader crackdown. Current status: As of January 23, 2026, ICE appears to be actively implementing the stated goal, with communications describing continued arrests and a strengthened enforcement posture; no formal completion date or final metric has been disclosed, indicating ongoing activity. Reliability note: The primary sources are DHS/ICE official press releases, which accurately reflect the agency’s stated aims and incentives; independent reporting corroborates the timing but varies in emphasis on outcomes.
Update · Jan 24, 2026, 12:30 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE publicly announced a 2026 emphasis on arresting more individuals characterized as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 states ICE launched 2026 with a 120% increase in manpower and describes ongoing arrests of individuals convicted of homicide, rape, kidnapping, and related crimes, explicitly framing them as the 'worst of the worst' (DHS,
New Year, Same Mission: ICE Arrests More Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens, Jan 2026).
Assessment of completion status: There is no specified completion deadline or metric in the DHS statement; the promise appears as an ongoing program for 2026 with continued arrests rather than a completed milestone.
Dates and milestones: The source notes a weekend of arrests and cites a manpower increase; the article is dated Jan 5, 2026, with no further end-date provided, indicating an ongoing effort through 2026.
Source reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS press release, which provides direct statements from ICE leadership and DHS. Independent reporting on the scope or impact of the program is mixed across other outlets, so cross-checking with additional federal data would help triangulate the broader impact (DHS press release, 2026).
Follow-up context: If the claim intended a concrete completion by year-end 2026, a follow-up assessment around late December 2026 or a DHS ICE annual report would be needed to determine final arrest counts and program outcomes (DHS press release, 2026).
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 10:39 PMin_progress
Restated claim and baseline: The article claimed DHS/ICE would pursue "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, signaling an intensified effort to remove violent and predatory criminal illegal aliens. The framing tied the year to ongoing enforcement and a prioritization of high-risk cases. (DHS press release, 2025-12-30)
Evidence of progress so far: ICE launched 2026 with multiple updates announcing continued enforcement, including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. A manpower expansion to over 12,000 officers was cited as enabling broader operations. (DHS/ICE pages, 2026-01-02; 2026-01-05)
Current status and completion: There is no published deadline or finish line; early 2026 updates describe ongoing arrests under the stated priority without confirming formal completion. The narrative remains active, indicating that the program is in_progress rather than completed or canceled. (DHS/ICE pages, 2026-01-02; 2026-01-05)
Reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which frame safety outcomes and enforcement capacity as justification for intensified measures. While they provide arrest details and personnel figures, independent verification of every case is not provided in these updates, so caution is warranted in assessing broader impact. (DHS/ICE pages, 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02; 2026-01-05; 2026-01-06)
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 08:15 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more 'worst of the worst' arrests in 2026. Evidence from official DHS releases shows ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026, with multiple announcements detailing arrests of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst and staffing increases to support enforcement. These releases establish intent and initial actions rather than a final completion date.
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 06:25 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” throughout 2026, signaling an ongoing, intensified enforcement effort. The claim relies on DHS press materials describing 2026 as a year of expanded enforcement against high-risk criminal illegal aliens. The articles and press releases frame arrests as part of a continuing campaign rather than a completed action.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced multiple rounds of arrests in January 2026, detailing cases involving homicide, child sexual assault, domestic violence, arson, and related crimes. Several releases cite expanded manpower (notably a claimed 120% increase) and list individuals arrested across various states as part of ongoing enforcement activity.
Current status of the promise: There is no published completion date or defined end point for the 2026 effort in the official material examined. The communications describe ongoing arrests and ongoing operations, consistent with a continuing program rather than a completed milestone.
Reliability and caveats: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are authoritative for policy statements and enforcement messaging but can reflect incentives to emphasize progress. Independent verification from non-government outlets or official ICE crime-and-booking metrics would help provide a more neutral assessment of the pace and impact of the arrests.
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 04:02 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more “worst of the worst” arrests in 2026, following a 2025 statement that framed such arrests as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026. Evidence of progress: a January 2, 2026 DHS press release from the Office of Public Affairs reports that ICE began 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud), framing these as part of removing the “worst of the worst” from communities. Additional explicit examples were provided in the release, listing multiple cases of criminal illegal aliens arrested around
New Year’s Eve and Day. This indicates a continuing policy focus on high-priority removals early in 2026, with no formal completion date published. The source is an official government communication (DHS/ICE), which strengthens reliability but frames the effort as ongoing rather than completed.
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 02:12 PMin_progress
What the claim states: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would see more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst.' The 2026 DHS press release formalizes this stance, stating the agency began the year with a continued effort to remove the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens from communities, highlighting cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS, Jan 2, 2026).
Evidence of progress: The DHS release documents concrete arrests on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, naming multiple individuals and their charges in several states as examples of ongoing enforcement. This constitutes an initial, verifiable milestone consistent with the stated objective to increase targeting of high-severity cases (DHS, Jan 2, 2026).
Assessment of completion status: There is no completed end-date or final metric published for the year. Given the absence of a defined end date and the ongoing nature of enforcement efforts, the status remains 'in progress' rather than complete. Early-2026 activity aligns with the stated aim but does not indicate finalization of the pledge (DHS, Jan 2, 2026).
Dates and milestones: The DHS release is dated January 2, 2026, and lists arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day, with specific individuals and locations cited. This provides a concrete milestone early in 2026, but broader, year-long progress remains contingent on subsequent operations and reporting (DHS, Jan 2, 2026).
Reliability note: The primary source is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an official government agency responsible for ICE. Coverage from DHS directly is primary evidence of the claim and its initial progress; secondary outlets corroborate but are not necessary for the factual basis provided by the agency (DHS, Jan 2, 2026).
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 12:18 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The article and official framing tied the pledge to intensified enforcement at the start of the year, with no specific completion metric or deadline provided. The current status as of 2026-01-23 shows ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed, fixed milestone. (Source framing: DHS news release announcing the 2026 posture was issued by ICE/DHS and reflected in subsequent DHS communications.)
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE begins 2026 with continued progress in removing the 'worst of the worst' criminals, including specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and Day (e.g., individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud). This demonstrates active deployment of the policy stance early in 2026 and provides concrete examples of targeted arrests. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02)
Details and milestones: The release lists named individuals and jurisdictions where arrests occurred, illustrating ongoing enforcement activity rather than a codified completion target. The absence of a formal end-date or measurable arrest quota in the public record means progress is evidenced by continued operations rather than a completed milestone. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02)
Assessment of status and reliability: With no published completion date and ongoing arrests reported in January 2026, the claim remains in the implementation phase. DHS is the primary source confirming policy posture and actions; independent coverage has echoed intensified enforcement but has not identified a final completion milestone. Given the incentives described for deterrence and public safety narratives, the reporting remains consistent with ongoing enforcement rather than an concluded program. (DHS press release; corroborating media coverage in early 2026 context)
Bottom line: As of 2026-01-23, there is evidence of continued arrests aligned with the 'worst of the worst' framing, but no completion of a defined milestone. The status is best characterized as in_progress, with ongoing enforcement actions and no stated end date. Follow-up should track whether ICE publishes an explicit completion metric or longitudinal data on the share of arrests that meet the 'worst of the worst' criterion over time. (DHS press release, 2026-01-02)
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 10:35 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” i.e., additional arrests of individuals characterized as the worst of the worst. The public record shows ICE frame this as a continuing effort at the start of 2026, not a finished program. A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 explicitly describes ICE beginning the new year with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses, framed as a continuation of removing the “worst of the worst” from communities.
Evidence of progress exists in the January 2026 DHS release, which lists several specific arrests occurring on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day and attributes them to a continuing ICE effort. The article provides named individuals and jurisdictions (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
Florida,
California), highlighting a demonstrable operational activity at the outset of 2026. This establishes momentum and public visibility for the program in its first days.
There is no published completion condition with a fixed deadline or metric for 2026 in the DHS materials; the press release describes ongoing enforcement without signaling a final target date. In the absence of a defined end date or quantitative milestone, the status is best characterized as ongoing and developmental rather than completed. Any assessment of ultimate success or failure will depend on subsequent reporting of ICE arrests and removals across the year.
Key dates and milestones available to date include the January 2, 2026 press release and the specific arrest announcements on New Year’s Eve/Day. The reported cases involve individuals with violent or serious criminal histories and indicate a sustained focus at the start of 2026. While these items establish early progress, they do not amount to a verified end-to-end completion of a year-long objective.
Reliability note: the primary source is a DHS/ICE official press release, which is the authoritative record for agency announcements. Coverage from independent outlets corroborates that ICE highlighted aggressive actions at the start of 2026, but external reporting should be considered supplementary for broader context and potential follow-up data on arrests/removals throughout the year. The incentives of the agency align with portraying ongoing enforcement activity.
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 08:01 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more arrests of the so‑called “worst of the worst” in 2026. Evidence of progress: a January 2, 2026 ICE/DHS release reports arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, listing several named cases and jurisdictions. Completion status: there is no fixed completion date or metric; enforcement activity is ongoing and the claim cannot be deemed complete at this time.
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 04:33 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE promised in 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, framing it as a
New Year’s mission for the year. Evidence of progress: ICE/DHS posts in early January 2026 document arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, rape, and related crimes, alongside announcements of a manpower boost to support enforcement. Completion status: No final completion or end-date is announced; the updates indicate ongoing operations throughout January 2026. Dates and milestones: Key updates appear on January 2, 5, and 6, 2026, highlighting specific arrests nationwide and the stated expansion of personnel. Source reliability: Information comes directly from DHS/ICE official pages, which are primary sources for policy and enforcement updates, though framing emphasizes the agency’s enforcement achievements.
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 02:35 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE targeted a 2026 pledge to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests,' indicating an ongoing program rather than a single event. Evidence: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release publicly describes arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes, marking initial year-start milestones. The release frames these actions as part of continued removal efforts in 2026.
Progress to date: The DHS release provides concrete examples of arrests at the start of 2026, signaling operational activity, but it does not present a comprehensive annual metric or a defined end date.
Completion status: There is no formal completion date or outcome; the completion condition remains unfulfilled and contingent on ongoing enforcement actions throughout 2026. The evidence supports an underway initiative rather than a concluded result.
Source reliability and context: The primary source is an official DHS ICE press release, which is authoritative for policy statements and initial actions. Independent corroboration of full-year metrics would strengthen the assessment.
Follow-up plan: A follow-up should review ICE/DHS communications at year-end 2026 to determine whether the program produced sustained arrests and whether any official metrics or end-date were issued.
Update · Jan 23, 2026, 01:12 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aimed to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. Official DHS communications confirm ICE framed 2026 as a year of continued arrests targeting what it labels the worst of the worst criminal aliens, beginning with
New Year’s actions in early January 2026.
Evidence of progress shows ICE announcing specific arrests on January 1–2, 2026, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The DHS press release lists multiple named individuals and jurisdictions as part of the initial rollout for 2026, indicating concrete enforcement activity consistent with the stated objective.
There is no published end date or final completion metric for 2026. The releases describe ongoing enforcement rather than a completed tally, so status remains best characterized as in-progress pending periodic updates throughout the year.
Overall, the claim aligns with ICE’s public stance at the outset of 2026 and is supported by official updates, but a final completion status cannot be confirmed without year-end reporting or milestones.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 10:29 PMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE aimed to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. Publicly available official records show that ICE started 2026 with heightened enforcement rhetoric and actions focused on individuals convicted of serious crimes, consistent with the stated aim.
Progress evidence: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release announces multiple arrests of criminal illegal aliens classified as the "worst of the worst" for offenses including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release documents specific individuals and jurisdictions, signaling tangible enforcement activity early in 2026.
Status of completion: There is no fixed completion date or metric published for the claim. The January 2026 announcements indicate ongoing operations and targeted arrests, suggesting the initiative is active but not completed, with additional arrests expected throughout the year as part of ICE’s ongoing enforcement posture.
Milestones and dates: The DHS release lists arrest events occurring on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, with named individuals and jurisdictions (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida). This establishes concrete, date-able milestones that progress the pledge into early 2026.
Source reliability note: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, a primary government source detailing stated policy emphasis and concrete arrests. While government briefings reflect enforcement incentives and messaging, they should be read alongside independent data for broader context on outcomes and impacts.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 08:17 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in early January 2026 to conduct more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress appears in multiple official DHS/ICE press releases at the start of 2026 describing ongoing arrests in line with that objective. The available official updates indicate continued activity rather than a completed end-state by the end of January 2026; no final completion metric or deadline was disclosed.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 06:35 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE aims to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, without a defined completion deadline or metrics.
Evidence of progress: Official DHS/ICE releases from January 2 and January 5, 2026 describe continued arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes and note a broad enforcement push at the start of 2026.
Ongoing status: The agency states an intensified campaign and a manpower expansion (over 12,000 new officers) with ongoing arrests, but provides no finish date, indicating the effort is underway.
Milestones and scope: Specific cases across multiple states are highlighted, illustrating a continued, nationwide enforcement trajectory rather than a concluded program.
Reliability: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect agency framing and milestones; independent verification is limited in these releases and should be considered with caution.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 04:06 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly pledged to conduct more arrests of the so‑called “worst of the worst” in 2026. Official DHS press releases frame 2026 as a continuation and expansion of removals targeting violent and serious-crime offenders. Evidence to date shows ICE announcing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses at the start of 2026, alongside a staffing expansion intended to enable these operations. The sources are official agency communications, with independent reporting providing contextual balance on enforcement levels and safety concerns.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 02:10 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly stated in 2026 that it would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests,” intensifying enforcement against high-risk criminal illegal aliens throughout the year. The promise centers on expanding arrests of individuals characterized as the most dangerous offenders, without a specified metric or deadline.
Progress and evidence: DHS/ICE reiterated the plan at the start of 2026, highlighting a manpower increase and framing early 2026 operations as continued momentum from late 2025. The agency subsequently announced multiple arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes in various jurisdictions, signaling ongoing enforcement under the stated objective.
Status of completion: There is no defined completion date or metric in the agency statements, so the completion condition is not met or denied as of 2026-01-22. The pattern to date shows ongoing operations and periodic press releases highlighting “worst of the worst” cases, rather than a wrap-up or final tally.
Milestones and reliability: January 5, 2026 DHS/ICE release introduces the year-long push with explicit examples of arrests over the prior weekend. Subsequent updates through January 2026 list additional arrests across multiple states, indicating a continuing program rather than a finished initiative. Official materials are the primary source, with some local outlets corroborating arrests but questioning attribution in isolated cases.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 12:27 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE pledged for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The January 5, 2026 DHS release frames this as a renewed year‑long push, citing a manpower increase and a continuation of arrests of murderers, sex offenders, and other violent criminals. A January 2, 2026 DHS update similarly characterizes ongoing 2026 enforcement around the 'worst of the worst' arrests. The December 30, 2025 summary framed 2025 momentum and positioned 2026 as a continuation rather than a completed program.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 10:46 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to execute “more worst of the worst arrests,” emphasizing arrests of highly dangerous or criminal illegal aliens. The article framing positions this as a
New Year’s resolution guiding ICE priorities throughout 2026. There is no formal completion deadline; the claim describes an ongoing policy posture rather than a finite milestone.
Evidence of progress: In early January 2026, ICE announced intensified operations and multiple arrests described as targeting “the worst of the worst,” including individuals convicted of homicide, sexual assault, and other violent crimes (DHS/ICE press releases dated Jan 2, Jan 5, and Jan 6, 2026). Reports also note a significant staffing increase to support removal efforts (e.g., ICE cited hiring enhancements in early January 2026). These items show a clear shift in activity aligned with the claim’s wording.
Event chronology and milestones: The DHS/ICE communications in January 2026 framed ongoing operations across multiple jurisdictions (e.g.,
Minnesota) with postings detailing dozens of arrests of violent offenders, including murder, rape, and child-related crimes. A separate DHS note highlighted ramped-up manpower as part of the push. While individual arrests are reported, there is no publicly disclosed, verifiable numerator/definition of “worst of the worst” beyond the described case profiles.
Status assessment: Based on public DHS/ICE releases through mid-January 2026, ICE appears to be pursuing higher-intensity enforcement against violent criminal aliens, consistent with the stated aim of “more worst of the worst arrests.” Some local reporting raised questions about how arrests were attributed or staged for publicity, but DHS/ICE official releases and ICE.gov statements continue to reaffirm the policy direction. No end date or completion condition has been announced, so the trajectory remains ongoing.
Source reliability and caveats: Primary sources are DHS and ICE official statements, which are authoritative for policy framing but may reflect the agency’s incentives to emphasize enforcement gains. Independent corroboration from neutral outlets is mixed and often focused on the operational reportage rather than independent verification of every case string. Given the incentives in play, readers should treat arrest tallies as illustrative of policy emphasis rather than neutral justice-system metrics.
Follow-up note: A follow-up should monitor DHS/ICE communications for the rest of 2026 to determine whether the stated emphasis translates into sustained arrests, measurable outcomes, or any policy adjustments; a date near 2026-12-31 is suggested for a final status check.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 08:18 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE vowed in 2026 to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence: a January 2, 2026 ICE/ICE DHS press release publicly announces arrests of individuals convicted of gravest offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as ICE begins 2026 and highlights specific individuals arrested on New Year’s Eve/Day. Completion status: no fixed completion date or metric is provided; the press release describes ongoing enforcement activity rather than an end point, so the claim remains in_progress. Reliability: the source is an official
U.S. government communication, which provides concrete named cases but may reflect agency framing; corroboration from independent data would strengthen verification. Context: this represents early-2026 actions and does not guarantee a year-long total or termination point.
Status assessment: The January 2026 release demonstrates that ICE is initiating enforcement framed as removing the “worst of the worst”, with named arrests across states. There is no published end-of-year tally or metric in this release, so completion cannot be confirmed. Overall, the claim is best categorized as in_progress pending fuller reporting.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, suitable for verifying government enforcement actions. Government statements can emphasize progress, so cross-checking with independent data (e.g., annual ICE statistics) would be prudent for objective accuracy. At present, evidence supports ongoing enforcement activity rather than final completion.
Dates and milestones: The notable milestone is the January 2, 2026 press release detailing New Year’s Eve/Day arrests. No end-date or comprehensive annual count is provided in that release. Future ICE or DHS reports would establish additional milestones or a closing tally.
Overall assessment: The claim reflects active enforcement in early 2026 but lacks a defined completion date or comprehensive yearly accounting. It remains in_progress unless subsequent reporting confirms a final end state or tally.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 04:13 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests labeled as the 'worst of the worst.'
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced on January 2, 2026 that it would begin the year with continued progress in removing the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, and it listed specific arrests occurring on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud) (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Current status: The new-year press release confirms ongoing efforts and multiple arrests at the start of 2026, indicating the initiative is active but not a completed, end-state milestone. There is no single completion date; progress is measured by arrests and removals as the year unfolds (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Reliability note: DHS’s own press release is the primary source for this claim and its early-2026 implementation. Coverage from government communications is direct but limited to announced actions; independent corroboration of broader trends would require additional reporting over time (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 02:32 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim that they would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling an expanded effort to arrest highly dangerous or offensive criminal illegal aliens. The exact phrasing in coverage has mirrored a
New Year’s resolution-like commitment for intensified enforcement.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced arrests on January 2, 2026, highlighting the removal of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other violent or serious offenses. The agency framed this as continuing progress in removing the “worst of the worst” from communities.
Progress status and completion: There is evidence of initial arrests early in 2026, but no stated completion date or final metric. The completion condition—whether ICE achieves a defined, end-of-year target or total culmination—remains undefined, leaving the status as ongoing rather than completed.
Milestones and reliability: The primary milestone available is the January 2, 2026 DHS press release. While a high-confidence official source confirms the action, details on broader year-long totals or subsequent enforcement events are not yet provided. Overall, the reporting aligns with ICE’s stated policy direction, but lacks a quantified, finish-line metric to deem the promise fulfilled.
Follow-up note: To determine final status, a follow-up review at year-end 2026 (e.g., 2026-12-31) should be conducted to compare annual arrests against any stated targets or completed enforcement campaigns.
Update · Jan 22, 2026, 12:32 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE purportedly aims to carry out more arrests described as the 'worst of the worst' in 2026. The public framing has repeatedly tied ongoing arrests to removals of violent or prolific offenders, with the term featured in multiple DHS press releases at year-start and mid-January 2026. The clearest public articulation is that ICE would continue targeted enforcement against individuals deemed the most dangerous or harmful.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE issued a Jan 2, 2026 release announcing continued progress in removing the 'worst of the worst' with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Additional releases on Jan 5 and Jan 14 highlighted further arrests of violent offenders, including child-related offenses and other serious crimes. A Jan 20, 2026 release claims substantial annual removals and specific recent arrests, reinforcing a continuing enforcement push into 2026.
Current status and milestones: As of 2026-01-21, ICE had publicly documented multiple targeted arrests across several states within the first weeks of the year and broader DHS totals asserting ongoing removal efforts. There is no formal completion date or endpoint published; the deadline or metric for deciding when the 2026 objective is fulfilled remains unspecified. The cadence of DHS press releases through Jan 20 suggests an ongoing campaign rather than a completed program.
Source reliability and caveats: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases, which provide official statements and arrest details but may reflect policy framing and emphasis consistent with agency messaging. Independent corroboration (e.g., court records, local law enforcement confirmations, or independent researchers) would strengthen assessment of scale and impact. Given the incentives to portray enforcement progress, readers should seek corroboration for arrest counts and the framing of progress beyond DHS releases.
Bottom line: The claim about pursuing more 'worst of the worst' arrests in 2026 appears to be an ongoing enforcement priority, with multiple public announcements in January 2026 indicating continued activity. There is no published completion date, and progress is evidenced by a sequence of arrests and DHS rhetoric rather than a finalized milestone. Ongoing monitoring and independent data checks are advised to gauge true progress and impact.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 11:13 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst” among criminalIllegal aliens. The source framing from DHS signals a continuing emphasis on high-severity cases rather than a broad population sweep.
Progress evidence: ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release announcing arrests of individuals convicted of offenses including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud as part of
New Year’s operations. The release specifies multiple individuals and jurisdictions (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida), indicating a tangible, public move in line with the stated priority. This demonstrates a concrete step in the 2026 effort, at least in the opening days of the year (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Current status and milestones: While the January 2026 release confirms initial arrests, there is no published endpoint or metric for completion beyond ongoing enforcement activity. The completion condition remains a forward-looking objective—continuing arrests of individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst” throughout 2026—so the claim cannot be deemed complete as of 2026-01-21. Monitoring ongoing ICE enforcement actions and quarterly DHS updates would be required to gauge full year progress.
Reliability notes: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press release, an official government communication, which strengthens credibility for the stated actions in early January 2026. Independent coverage exists but varies in framing; cross-checking with additional DHS updates or court/agency records would help verify consistency and scope over time. The reported incentives—prioritizing high-severity cases—align with DHS messaging about public safety goals, though critics may scrutinize definitional scope of “worst of the worst.”
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 08:29 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens in 2026. Evidence of progress: a January 2, 2026 DHS press release from ICE announces the start of 2026 with continued removal efforts and details multiple arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes, signaling ongoing activity rather than a completed program. Status and milestones: as of early January 2026, ICE reported specific arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day and framed them as part of a broader 2026 effort; no formal completion date or end-state metric is published. Source reliability and incentives: the information comes from official DHS/ICE communications, a primary government source, which supports enforcement objectives and community safety goals without outlining a fixed timeline.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 06:32 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. Public statements from ICE and DHS at year start 2026 describe ongoing enforcement against individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst,” continuing the prior year’s framing (DHS.gov, 2025-12-30; DHS.gov, 2026-01-02). Early 2026 releases indicate continued arrests in line with that framing, including reports of arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (ICE.gov, 2026-01-10). The evidence so far shows intent and ongoing activity but there is no published completion criteria or deadline, rendering the status as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 04:05 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. The 2026 tone and framing imply an ongoing effort with no fixed numerical targets or deadlines.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced on January 2, 2026 that it began the year with continued enforcement actions targeting the worst-of-the-worst offenders, including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release explicitly frames these actions as part of a sustained effort into 2026 and cites specific cases in multiple states. A DHS press release page corroborates the timing and nature of these arrests as the new year begins.
Current status against completion condition: There is no published completion date or metric, but as of January 21, 2026 ICE appears to be proceeding with additional high-priority arrests consistent with the stated 2026 objective. The absence of a deadline means “completion” remains contingent on ongoing enforcement activity throughout the year, rather than a single milestone.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day arrests highlighted in the January 2, 2026 DHS release and the ongoing 2026 narrative in ICE communications. These indicate initial momentum, but there is no comprehensive annual tally or final completion report available yet.
Source reliability note: The principal sources are DHS/ICE official press releases and the DHS.gov newsroom. These sources are primary and official, but readers should remain aware of potential framing around enforcement and the administrative framing of “worst of the worst.” Cross-checking with independent outlets helps corroborate context; however, initial corroboration for early January 2026 activity comes from the agency itself.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 02:10 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' in 2026. The official framing from December 2025 explicitly announced this policy orientation for 2026, framing it as ongoing enforcement against violent and high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: Beginning January 2026, DHS/ICE released multiple press notes detailing arrests tied to the 'worst of the worst' in various jurisdictions. A January 2, 2026 DHS release describes continued arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes; a January 5 release reiterates mission expansion backed by manpower increases; and a January 16 release highlights a large operation in
Minnesota with numerous high-priority cases. These items indicate ongoing activity aligned with the stated objective.
Status of completion: As of January 21, 2026, there is public reporting of continued arrests and ongoing operations, but no formal end date or completion milestone is provided in DHS communications. The completion condition remains ambiguous (no specific metric or deadline), so the status is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed, given the ongoing announcements and activities.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 release announcing the 2026 mission, the January 2, 2026 announcement of continued arrests, the January 5 release citing increased manpower, and the January 16 release detailing Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota with numerous high-conviction cases. Source reliability is high, as the information comes directly from DHS/ICE press releases and the DHS website, which publishes official federal statements.
Reliability note: The sources are official government communications (DHS/ICE), which provides a direct account of enforcement activity and policy framing. While the terminology reflects DHS’s law-enforcement perspective, the reporting of arrests and operations is consistent across multiple DHS releases in early January 2026, supporting a cautious, in_progress assessment rather than a conclusive completion.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 12:18 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE publicly stated in 2026 that it would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” during the year, continuing the framing from late 2025 with no explicit numeric targets or deadlines.
Progress evidence: A January 2, 2026 ICE press release announces the start of 2026 with continued removals of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst, listing cases across several states and specifying crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud.
Current status relative to the promise: The January 2026 release shows ongoing activity and does not designate a completion date, indicating an open-ended enforcement effort rather than a completed milestone.
Context and reliability: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which provide concrete examples and state aims for 2026. Independent verification from court records or ICE datasets would strengthen triangulation, but the releases themselves document active arrests and prosecutions.
Incentives and interpretation: The messaging emphasizes protecting communities by removing severe offenders, which aligns with ICE’s mission and political framing in public statements. There is potential for variability in how “worst of the worst” is categorized across jurisdictions, warranting cautious interpretation.
Notes on completeness: Given the lack of a defined end date or numeric targets, the status remains ongoing rather than complete or definitively failed. Further updates through 2026 would be needed to judge whether the promise translates into measurable, time-bound milestones.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 11:54 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS communications on January 2, 2026 announced a new year push with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related serious offenses, illustrating continued emphasis on the same category of cases (DHS ICE press release, 01/02/2026). Context from the December 30, 2025 DHS release confirms the 2026 framing, including the explicit quote about increasing the “worst of the worst” arrests (DHS.gov, 12/30/2025). Additional corroboration comes from subsequent coverage noting ongoing enforcement actions framed around “worst of the worst” criminal aliens, though no formal metrics or end dates are published in official communications (CNN coverage, early January 2026).
Progress indicators: concrete arrest announcements on 01/02/2026 show that the policy framing is being acted upon, with named individuals and jurisdictions and crimes ranging from aggravated sexual assault of a child to murder and fraud (DHS/ICE press release, 01/02/2026). The December 2025 release documents the target profile and 2026 objective, establishing clear intent that appears to be operationalized in early 2026 (DHS.gov, 12/30/2025). Reliability note: these are official government sources, complemented by independent reporting that tracks enforcement actions (e.g., CNN interactive piece).
Completion status: no published completion milestone or end-date; thus the claim cannot be judged complete. Official statements describe ongoing enforcement and annual framing rather than a finalized quota, consistent with an in-progress status as of 2026-01-20. If the program continues through 2026, periodic updates would be expected to reflect totals or changes in policy emphasis.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 10:23 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence from official sources shows the agency kicked off 2026 with announced arrests targeting individuals convicted of serious crimes, signaling continued emphasis on high-priority cases. A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release describes multiple arrests of individuals with convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, framing these as part of the new year efforts.
Progress evidence: The January 2, 2026 DHS press release provides concrete, contemporaneous examples of arrests fitting the described priority category, including named individuals and locations. The release notes that ICE began the year with arrests of those convicted of serious offenses and emphasizes ongoing removal efforts through 2026. This constitutes an initial, verifiable milestone in the claimed program.
Completion status: There is no published end date or metric indicating completion of the pledge. Given the press release states ongoing efforts and highlights arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day, the status remains active and ongoing rather than completed or failed as of 2026-01-21. Additional quarterly or annual updates would be needed to determine full completion.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone publicly reported is the January 2, 2026 release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including specific cases (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and officer commentary about safer communities. The article confirms the announced focus for early 2026 but does not provide a comprehensive tally or a completion timeline.
Source reliability and incentives: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary for this claim and provide direct statements from agency leadership. While these updates fit the agency’s stated priorities, researchers should remain aware of potential messaging incentives in immigration enforcement communications and cross-check with independent data for trends in arrests, removals, and case outcomes.
Overall assessment: Based on available official reporting, the claim remains in_progress. ICE has publicly initiated 2026 with targeted arrests described as part of the ongoing 'worst of the worst' effort, but no final completion date is provided, and further updates will be needed to track progress over the year.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 04:14 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE announced in early January 2026 that it would pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, targeting individuals described as the most dangerous or egregious criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly released a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day of individuals convicted of violent or serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of their ongoing effort to remove the so‑called “worst of the worst” from communities. This represents a concrete, public step consistent with the proclaimed target. Source: DHS press release (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Status assessment: The press release documents specific arrests and actions at the outset of 2026 but does not provide metrics, deadlines, or a completion condition. With no defined end date or quantified goals, the claim cannot be deemed completed and is best characterized as already underway with ongoing operations throughout 2026.
Reliability and incentives: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE release, which is the primary source for government enforcement announcements. While the framing emphasizes aggressive removals, external analyses note debates over numbers and classification of “worst of the worst,” highlighting incentives around criminal immigration enforcement and public messaging. See DHS/ICE release (DHS, 2026-01-02) and contemporaneous policy discussions (e.g., Reason, 2025-12-12).
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 02:29 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out more arrests of the so‑called “worst of the worst” in 2026, with no formal deadline or metric provided for completion. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced at the start of 2026 that it would continue removing the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, and DHS listed multiple arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes near
the New Year (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) in a January 2, 2026 release. This establishes an ongoing posture rather than a completed program and demonstrates concrete arrests early in the year. Current status: there is no reported completion date or end condition; the narrative remains that the program is active with ongoing enforcement actions, i.e., in_progress rather than complete or failed. Relevant milestones: the January 2, 2026 DHS release documents specific arrests and identifies continued enforcement effort into 2026, but does not provide a final tally or end date for this initiative. Source reliability: the primary source is a DHS/ICE press release, a high‑quality official government document; secondary coverage in non-government outlets reinforces the news but should be weighed against potential framing. Follow-up note: monitor ICE press releases and DHS communications for year‑end summaries or milestone reports to assess whether the initiative yields a defined completion or remains an ongoing enforcement posture.
Update · Jan 21, 2026, 12:45 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Public statements from ICE and DHS in early 2026 align with continuing efforts to arrest and remove individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, including those convicted of violent crimes and offenses against children. The phrasing appears in multiple DHS press releases at the start of 2026, suggesting an ongoing enforcement emphasis rather than a completed initiative.
Evidence of progress to date shows several milestone arrests announced at the start of 2026. A January 2, 2026 DHS release highlighted arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud as part of ICE operations entering the new year. Subsequent DHS posts on January 5 and January 6 referenced continued arrests of targeted offenders and the hiring and deployment of manpower to accelerate removals, reinforcing the stated objective.
There is no single completion date or metric provided for the 'more worst of the worst arrests' objective, consistent with typical ICE enforcement campaigns that operate on ongoing caseloads rather than a fixed endpoint. The available DHS communications demonstrate ongoing activity through the first weeks of January 2026, but do not indicate a wrap-up or conclusive end-state by a specific date.
In terms of reliability, DHS/ICE press releases are the primary sources for these announcements. They present the agency’s framing of enforcement priorities and specific arrest cases; independent corroboration from third-party outlets is limited in early 2026, and coverage tends to echo agency releases rather than provide critical assessment. Overall, the record shows continued enforcement action rather than a completed program.
Given the available evidence, the claim is best characterized as in_progress: ICE appears to be pursuing an ongoing, intensified enforcement posture at the start of 2026, with multiple arrests of individuals labeled as among the 'worst of the worst.' The absence of a fixed completion date or measurable endpoint in the official materials supports this assessment.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 10:22 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided. Evidence of intent and early actions: a DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 explicitly states ICE would arrest more of the “worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens” in 2026, citing a significant manpower increase and listing early arrests of individuals convicted of homicide, rape, kidnapping, and related offenses. Status of progress: the January 2026 release confirms the policy direction and initial deployment, but there is no published final tally or completion date; progress is ongoing through 2026 as per DHS messaging. Notable milestones and dates: January 5, 2026 release announcing the approach and early arrests; reference to a 120% increase in manpower. Source reliability and incentives: DHS is a primary government source; messaging frames enforcement in terms of removing criminal illegal aliens, reflecting policy incentives to expand arrestees and removals in 2026. Reliability caveat: the claim is based on official DHS communications and per-period reporting; independent verification of totals or longer-term outcomes in 2026 remains limited in publicly available records.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 08:27 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to perform "more worst of the worst arrests" of criminal illegal aliens, continuing a policy framing used at the end of 2025. The source framing tied the pledge to a
New Year’s resolution for increased enforcement against high-severity cases.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with notable arrests described as among the "worst of the worst"—including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud—on January 2, 2026 (ICE Rings in 2026). The initial wave enumerated multiple cases across jurisdictions, indicating a continued deployment of high-priority enforcement actions.
Status assessment: As of January 20, 2026, there is evidence of ongoing enforcement activity consistent with the stated aim, but no comprehensive metric, endpoint, or completion date has been provided. The December 30, 2025 DHS post explicitly framed 2026 as a year of "more worst of the worst arrests," with no formal deadline, suggesting progress would be measured by ongoing arrests rather than a fixed milestone.
Source reliability note: The primary claims come from official DHS/ICE communications, which present the policy aim and concrete arrest announcements. While these sources are official, they promote enforcement framing and may reflect specific political incentives; cross-checking with independent criminal justice data shows a broader and more nuanced landscape of ICE apprehensions and convictions.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 06:46 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly vowed in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” expanding enforcement against individuals described as the most dangerous criminal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release confirms ICE began 2026 with arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, listing multiple individuals detained on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The release explicitly frames this as continued progress in removing “the worst of the worst” from communities.
Current status and milestones: The press release documents concrete arrests and names several individuals across states (TX, NJ,
NC, PA, FL, CA, etc.), establishing a concrete early-2026 milestone. It also notes ongoing law-enforcement activity during the holiday period, indicating the initiative is underway but not yet completed.
Evidence reliability and scope: The source is an official
U.S. government release from the Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE’s announcements. While it verifies the 2026 push and some arrests, it does not provide a comprehensive metric or annual target, and no end-date is specified for the initiative.
Reliability assessment and context: As a primary government source, the DHS/ICE release is authoritative for policy direction and initial actions. Independent corroboration from non-government outlets is limited in this initial phase, so early progress should be interpreted as ongoing rather than final. The framing aligns with ICE’s stated objective rather than an independently verifiable completion metric.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 04:10 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting criminal illegal aliens deemed the most dangerous. Evidence shows the initiative launching in early 2026, with DHS highlighting a substantial manpower increase and ICE’s focus on high-risk targets across jurisdictions. Official statements frame these arrests as a continuing effort rather than the completion of a fixed program, with public updates in January 2026. Reliability note: DHS/ICE communications are authoritative for policy aims, but framing may reflect administration messaging; corroboration from arrest reports strengthens credibility.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 02:14 PMin_progress
The claim asserts that DHS/ICE aims to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' in 2026. Public records show the initiative was activated at the start of 2026 with explicit messaging from ICE and DHS about continued removal of high-priority offenders. There is no published completion date or final metric, indicating an ongoing enforcement effort rather than a concluded action.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 12:17 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the prior year’s pattern of high-profile enforcement actions. The first concrete signal came from a DHS press release on January 2, 2026, announcing that ICE would ring in the new year with continued removals of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, including cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This establishes a government-wide framing that the objective for 2026 is to add arrests of individuals characterized as the most dangerous offenders. Official wording and timing come from a DHS press release (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 10:29 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” was framed as a
New Year’s resolution for intensified enforcement targeting the so‑called worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, with no specific completion metric or deadline.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly launched 2026 with press releases announcing ongoing arrests of individuals described as among the worst of the worst, including crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The agency rolled out multiple consecutive updates in early January 2026 detailing arrests across several states (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina), signaling an initial push to implement the stated priority.
Current status of completion: As of mid‑January 2026, ICE had not published any formal completion or end‑state metric for the “more worst of the worst arrests” initiative. The announcements describe ongoing arrests and new hires; there is no documented deadline or closure date indicating a completed program.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 DHS post framing 2026 as the year for more arrests, followed by January 2, 5, and 6, 2026 DHS releases detailing specific arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes. These entries establish a temporal sequence showing start‑of‑year activity, but still lack a final completion milestone.
Source reliability and neutrality: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages, which are primary sources for policy announcements and enforcement actions. While the messaging emphasizes “worst of the worst” criminals, sources do not provide independent verification of crime risk distribution or long‑term impact, so interpretation should consider potential agency incentives in framing arrests.
Follow-up note: Given the ongoing nature of enforcement actions, a follow-up on a defined milestone (e.g., quarterly arrest totals labeled as “worst of the worst”) would help assess whether a measurable completion or sustained acceleration has occurred. Suggested follow-up date: 2026-06-30.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 07:53 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE aims to carry out more 'worst of the worst' arrests in 2026, per the 2025–2026 DHS press material. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE began publishing 2026 updates in early January, highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes across multiple states. These posts also note a large manpower expansion (reported as over 12,000 new officers) that is framed as enabling more arrests. Completion status: There is no formal completion metric or deadline; as of mid-January 2026, arrests are being reported and continue to occur, but whether this constitutes completion of the stated promise cannot be determined from official disclosures alone. Key milestones and dates: initial 2026 announcements on January 2, January 5, and January 6 detail specific arrests and the scale of personnel increases; the December 30, 2025 release frames the 2026 pledge. Reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect agency assertions and framing; independent corroboration of crime reductions or long-term impact is not provided in these materials.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 04:04 AMin_progress
The claim restates DHS/ICE's pledge to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, and official reporting shows enforcement activity aligned with that framing starting in early 2026. Publicly released material from DHS and ICE confirms initial and ongoing efforts without a defined end date or metric.
On January 2, 2026, ICE announced arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud as part of
the New Year push. This establishes a concrete, early milestone consistent with the claim’s intent to target high-severity offenses.
Further progress is documented in DHS/ICE releases dated January 5 and January 10, 2026, noting a ramp in manpower and additional high-risk arrests across multiple jurisdictions, including
Minnesota. These items indicate continued enforcement activity rather than a final, completed outcome.
There is no published completion condition or deadline, so the status remains in_progress. The reporting appears to reflect official incentives focused on public safety and removal of high-risk offenders, as described by ICE leadership.
Overall, the available official sources show ongoing activity toward the stated objective in 2026, but no definitive completion has been announced.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 02:04 AMin_progress
Headline claim: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The sources show the agency framing 2026 as a year of intensified enforcement targeting violent and serious-crime offenders among removable aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day and again on January 10, 2026, highlighting multiple individuals convicted of grave offenses (including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and other serious crimes) as examples of ongoing enforcement against the “worst of the worst.” These statements appear in DHS/ICE press releases dated January 2 and January 10, 2026.
Current status: The program or initiative appears active but not completed, since the 2026 calendar year is ongoing and the agency has publicly framed ongoing arrests as part of a year-long effort. The Jan 2 release signals an intentional start, and subsequent releases indicate continued activity rather than a defined end-date.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 DHS release announcing initial arrests of high-severity offenders, and the January 10, 2026 ICE release detailing dozens of additional arrests in
Minnesota and related operations. These create a running narrative of progress rather than a single completion event.
Source reliability and context: The information originates from official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary sources for enforcement actions. As with any law-enforcement reporting, consider potential incentives to emphasize arrests and public safety narratives; cross-checking with independent reporting can provide additional context on overall impact and due process considerations.
Update · Jan 20, 2026, 12:13 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE purportedly aimed in 2026 to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens, including child rapists and other violent offenders, as a
New Year’s resolution.
Evidence of progress: A December 30, 2025 DHS press release describes ICE arrests of individuals labeled the 'worst of the worst' and references a 2026 resolution, but provides no clear, measurable progress metrics or sustained plan for 2026. No independent follow-up updates detailing ongoing 2026 arrests are readily available as of mid-January 2026.
Completion status: There is no public evidence showing the promised program has been completed or formally initiated with verifiable milestones by January 19, 2026. The material available mainly recaps the year-end announcement and lacks concrete timelines or benchmarks.
Reliability and caveats: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE release, which is appropriate for policy statements but may frame enforcement in a promotional manner. The absence of detailed progress data suggests the claim remains unverified in public records and requires official updates for confirmation.
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 10:12 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” emphasizing intensified enforcement targeting high-risk criminal illegal aliens. The framing is propagandistic, but the official claim is that the year would see expanded arrests of the most dangerous offenders. The relevant primary source is ICE/DHS communications announcing the 2026 initiative (DHS Jan 5, 2026).
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 08:07 PMin_progress
Restated claim and context: The DHS/ICE claim is that their
New Year’s resolution for 2026 is to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests, following ICE’s 2025 wrap-up. The official framing appeared in a DHS release on January 2, 2026, signaling an explicit intent to continue high-priority removals of serious offenders at the start of 2026 (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress: On January 2, 2026, DHS/ICE announced arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including offenders convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, marking an immediate continuation of the prior year’s emphasis (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Additional developments: ICE released a January 10, 2026 report detailing dozens of arrests in
Minnesota of criminal illegal aliens convicted of murder, child rape, and related offenses, illustrating ongoing enforcement activity within the year (ICE.gov, 2026-01-10).
Progress assessment: These early 2026 disclosures show continued enforcement targeting high-severity cases, aligning with the stated goal of “more worst of the worst arrests.” However, there is no single completion date or metric published, so the status remains ongoing rather than completed (no metrics or deadlines are provided in the releases).
Reliability and incentives: The sources are official agency communications (DHS and ICE), which reliably reflect agency framing and operational emphasis. As with prior years, incentives include public safety messaging and political signaling around immigration enforcement priorities, which should be considered when interpreting the breadth and scope of arrests announced.
Follow-up note: Given the ongoing nature of 2026, a follow-up review on a future milestone date (e.g., year-end 2026) would clarify whether the “more worst of the worst arrests” objective was completed, expanded, or moderated (follow_up_date: 2026-12-31).
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 06:28 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified effort to remove the most dangerous offenders. The completion condition provided is the ongoing pursuit itself, with no explicit end-date.
Evidence of progress: ICE began 2026 announcing arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (Jan 2, 2026 DHS release). A Jan 5, 2026 DHS release framed the effort as supported by a large manpower expansion and weekend arrests of murderers, stalkers, rapists, and gang members.
Progress assessment: The public record shows repeated official statements and arrests in early January 2026, aligning with the stated objective. However, there is no published quantitative target or completion date, so the claim remains an ongoing program rather than a finished action.
Milestones and dates: Jan 2, 2026 (initial arrests announced), Jan 5, 2026 (manpower expansion highlighted), Jan 10, 2026 (
Minnesota-focused arrests), with ongoing enforcement activity described across DHS/ICE releases.
Source reliability note: The indicators come from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary records for the claim but use promotional framing. Interpretation should account for possible emphasis on successes and personnel increases.
Conclusion: Based on current official disclosures, the claim is best characterized as in_progress for 2026, with active arrests and expanded staffing underway but no formal completion date or final metric.
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 04:05 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with more arrests of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, signaling an intensified enforcement push throughout the year. The claim rests on ICE’s own statements about prioritizing severe crimes rather than a completed metric.
Evidence of progress: ICE announced in early January 2026 that it began the year with arrests targeting the worst of the worst, listing several individuals with serious convictions. DHS press releases dated January 2 and January 5, 2026 describe ongoing enforcement and note a manpower expansion to enable more arrests. This establishes a definable start to the year with concrete cases highlighted by the agency.
Progress toward completion: As of mid-January 2026 there is no official completion date or final tally published; the effort is framed as ongoing enforcement rather than a discrete milestone. Independent reporting from local outlets questioned the precision of ICE’s arrest-attribution, noting some individuals were already in custody. The situation remains active with no published end-date for the program.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 ICE press release detailing specific arrests and the January 5, 2026 follow-up emphasizing manpower increases. A later January 17, 2026 report highlighted scrutiny over arrest attribution, illustrating ongoing verification needs. The absence of a completion date reinforces the open-ended nature of the push.
Source reliability and balance: The primary evidence comes from ICE/DHS official press releases, which provide direct evidence of the policy and arrests. Independent verification (e.g., MPR News) raises questions about whether all credited arrests were newly secured during the reported period. Collectively, the sources show a continued enforcement push in 2026 with mixed independent corroboration.
Follow-up: Monitor ICE quarterly enforcement statistics and DHS briefings for updated milestones or end-of-year summaries to assess whether the 2026 arrests reach a measurable completion point.
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 02:13 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. In practice, ICE began 2026 by publicly announcing a series of targeted arrests, framing them as continuing the removal of the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens from
American communities. This establishes an ongoing programmatic direction rather than a one-time milestone.
Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release details arrests carried out on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release explicitly characterizes these arrests as part of ICE’s ongoing effort to remove dangerous offenders from the
U.S. (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
What is completed vs. in progress: The January 2026 arrests demonstrate operational activity aligned with the stated 2026 objective, but there is no published completion metric or deadline. The completion condition—whether ICE will carry out additional “worst of the worst” arrests over the year—remains an ongoing, multi-month process rather than a finished event (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Milestones and dates: The formal milestone is the January 2, 2026 release detailing specific arrests and the nature of convictions in multiple jurisdictions. This indicates continued, high-profile enforcement actions as part of the defined objective for 2026. No end-date is provided in the DHS release, consistent with an ongoing program through 2026 (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Source reliability and context: The reporting comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/ICE official press materials, which are primary sources for policy and enforcement actions. Given the official nature of the announcements, the information reflects ICE’s stated priorities and actions, though independent verification of broader impact or long-term outcomes would require additional data (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Follow-up note on incentives: The claim’s framing as a continued “worst of the worst” enforcement aligns with ICE’s public messaging emphasizing removal of dangerous offenders. Understanding the program’s trajectory will benefit from tracking subsequent arrest totals, demographic details, and case outcomes over 2026 to assess whether the incentive structure yields sustained, incremental progress.
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 12:14 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, with no formal completion metric or deadline attached. In early 2026, official DHS/ICE communications repeated the framing of arresting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens as a central mission. The evidence indicates continued enforcement activity rather than a completed endpoint. The status remains in_progress as of 2026-01-19, with no announced wrap-up date.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE press releases dated January 2 and January 5, 2026 describe arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, fraud, and related crimes, and note a substantial manpower increase (120%). These releases frame ongoing operations to remove the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens.
Status of completion: No final completion date or cessation of the initiative is published. The available official communications describe ongoing enforcement and staffing, not a concluded program.
Milestones and dates: Key milestones cited are New Year’s Eve/Day arrests and subsequent early January disclosures detailing cases and personnel increases. No closure or final tally is reported as of 2026-01-19. Source reliability is high for official policy/operations but limited to agency-perspective outputs; independent confirmation would require corroboration from courts or third-party investigations.
Notes on incentives and framing: The releases emphasize public safety outcomes and enforcement efficiency, reflecting policy incentives to demonstrate aggressive border/immigration enforcement. The content is issued by a government agency, so it serves as the primary framing for progress; independent evaluation is not provided in the cited materials.
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 10:29 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 aim to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The article cited as the basis for the claim indicated an ongoing, policy-like objective rather than a one-off event. Early 2026 reporting shows ICE framing arrests as part of this ongoing push, including announced arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day and framing them as removing the most dangerous criminal aliens (DHS, Jan 2, 2026).
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 07:54 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. Official DHS communications frame the policy as ongoing enforcement rather than a completed program, with no specified end date. The current public record indicates continued arrests under the same framing in early January 2026.
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 03:51 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens. Official DHS communication frames 2026 as a continuation and expansion of prioritizing high-severity cases. The claim is that this programmatic emphasis will persist through the year, with new arrests highlighted in successive DHS statements.
Update · Jan 19, 2026, 01:51 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on criminal illegal aliens identified as the most dangerous. The source framing presented this as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026. There is no formal metric given beyond the qualitative aim described by ICE/DHS.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced ongoing operations in early January 2026, including arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” with multiple press releases enumerating specific cases (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and naming individual arrestees across states. The January 2, 2026 DHS release explicitly states the agency began the year with these arrests. A subsequent ICE/ DHS communications throughout early January 2026 continue to emphasize similar efforts and personnel deployments.
Status of the promise: As of 2026-01-18, ICE had initiated a series of arrests and public disclosures; there is no completion date or final metric indicating the mission’s end. The evidence supports ongoing operations rather than a completed, finite set of arrests. The repeated framing as a continuing effort suggests an ongoing policy posture rather than a discrete milestone completion.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 DHS press release detailing arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and subsequent agency statements in the first half of January 2026 highlighting additional arrests and manpower adjustments. The coverage indicates a ramp-up at the start of 2026 rather than a single, closed event.
Reliability and sources: The core claims come from official DHS/ICE releases and the DHS.gov site, which are primary sources for
U.S. immigration enforcement actions. While the phrasing uses strong descriptors like “worst of the worst,” the reporting is limited to agency press releases and summaries of arrests, with no independent corroboration of every individual case. Overall, sources are high-authority for describing ICE enforcement activity, though language reflects prosecutorial framing. The incentives of the agency to highlight arrests should be weighed when interpreting the tone and scope of the claims.
Follow-up note: If needed, a follow-up on 2026-12-31 could assess whether the “more worst of the worst arrests” aim produced a measurable end-state (e.g., a defined annual total, formal policy shifts, or budgetary adjustments) or remained an ongoing enforcement posture.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 11:58 PMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE intends to carry out more “worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, a
New Year’s resolution highlighted by ICE/DHS. The DHS press release explicitly states: “Our New Year’s resolution for 2026: more worst of the worst arrests.” (DHS/ICE, 2025-12-30).
Progress evidence indicates ICE described arrests around the end of 2025 and framed 2026 as a continuation of those efforts, but there is no independent metric or deadline publicly provided to prove a measurable expansion. External analyses question the composition of the “worst of the worst” category and the enforcement breadth, without offering official completion data.
As of 2026-01-18, there is no documented completion of the promise; the DHS statement reads as an ongoing enforcement objective rather than a completed program, with no concrete milestones or end date. Journalistic and policy critiques provide context but do not establish verified progress against objective metrics.
Reliability notes: the primary source is a government release promoting enforcement framing; independent critiques from Reason and policy think tanks offer scrutiny about how arrests are categorized and the potential misalignment with the category. Together these sources suggest the claim rests on an enforcement policy stance rather than a verifiable, objective outcome.
Incentives and implications: the framing emphasizes public safety and officer actions, while critics point to incentives to maximize high-visibility arrests and deportations, which can influence prosecutorial discretion and resource allocation. If 2026 arrests increase, the incentive structure may shift toward more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, potentially affecting detainee profiles and due-process considerations.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 09:56 PMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE intends to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” in 2026. Publicly available official material confirms the agency framed 2026 as a year to ring in with increased arrests targeting violent and serious-crime offenders among unauthorized entrants, described in the phrasing “worst of the worst.” The January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release explicitly promotes this objective and provides examples of arrests carried out at the start of the year (e.g., individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud).
Evidence of progress exists in the form of the January 2, 2026 announcement and the named arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day as part of the stated effort. The release attributes these actions to ICE’s ongoing work to remove serious offenders from
American communities and cites specific individuals and convictions as milestones for the opening of 2026.
There is no completion date or metric published that would indicate a final target for “more arrests” beyond the calendar year. Given the absence of a defined endpoint, and the fact that ICE subsequently would need to sustain or expand activity to satisfy the promise, the status should be read as ongoing progress rather than completed. The available record shows that the initiative was launched and is being pursued, with early arrests documented.
Reliability of sources: the core claim rests on an official DHS/ICE press release, which is a primary source for government enforcement messaging. While the release presents a favorable framing of arrests, it is consistent with ICE’s public communications style and policy emphasis. For broader context, independent coverage corroborates ICE’s emphasis on prioritizing serious offenders, though it may vary in interpretation of the program’s scope and impact.
Overall, the claim is best characterized as in_progress: the stated objective is being pursued with concrete arrests early in 2026, but no final completion or year-end metric is published to declare closure of the initiative.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 07:49 PMin_progress
Summary of the claim: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. The claim frames this as an ongoing objective for 2026 without a specified completion deadline. The official stance is that ICE intended to prioritize and expand arrests of individuals characterized as the most dangerous or serious offenders among unauthorized entrants.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that it began the year with continued progress in removing “the worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, listing several arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS, 2026-01-02). The press release provides named examples and locations, indicating concrete arrests were carried out at the outset of 2026. A contemporaneous DHS feature from December 2025 framed the claim as a New Year’s resolution for 2026, which aligns with the January 2026 actions (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02).
Status assessment: As of 2026-01-18, ICE had publicly documented initial arrests attributed to its 2026 objective, but there is no published end-date or metric indicating a completed, fully satisfied program. The lack of a defined completion date means the promise remains in_progress, with ongoing enforcement activity expected throughout the year. Credible, official DHS statements corroborate the direction and initial steps without signaling a termination or fulfillment of a fixed threshold.
Milestones and dates: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 DHS press release detailing specific arrests of convicted individuals (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and the broader framing of these arrests as the year’s kickoff for “the worst of the worst” enforcement. The source material does not specify quarterly targets, totals, or deadlines, only an inaugural set of arrests as evidence of progress. These dates provide a concrete, verifiable snapshot of early 2026 enforcement momentum.
Source reliability and incentives: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are appropriate for assessing policy statements and enforcement actions. Secondary outlets cited in search results (e.g., reports from media aggregators) reflect testimonies of the same events but vary in framing; the official DHS release remains the most authoritative for the stated claim. The incentive structure appears to emphasize public safety messaging and enforcement visibility, rather than a measurable completion criterion, which aligns with the absence of a fixed deadline in the official wording.
Follow-up note: A reasonable follow-up date to reassess progress could be 2026-12-31 to determine whether ICE achieved any defined progress metrics or completed ongoing enforcement efforts under the 2026 goal.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 06:14 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling a heightened enforcement focus on criminal aliens deemed among the most dangerous. The framing appeared in a December 30, 2025 DHS release and was reiterated in a January 2, 2026 update, highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses.
Evidence of progress exists in concrete arrests announced at the start of 2026. The January 2, 2026 DHS release lists multiple arrests on
New Year’s Eve and Day with convictions for serious crimes across several states, indicating ongoing execution of the stated objective.
There is no defined completion date or metric in these releases. The materials describe ongoing operations rather than a finite milestone, so the claim cannot be deemed completed; rather, it appears to reflect an ongoing enforcement posture with periodic public announcements.
Observed dates and milestones include the release dates (Dec 30, 2025; Jan 2, 2026) and the enumerated arrest cases, which serve as contemporaneous evidence of continued activity rather than a final, time-bound completion. Sources are official DHS/ICE releases, which are reliable for this specific claim; independent reporting provides context but may differ in interpretation of the methodology behind “worst of the worst.”
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 03:53 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of its so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. Evidence since the start of 2026 shows ICE publicly announcing arrests associated with those labeled as high-risk offenders, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes (DHS press release dated 2026-01-02). The January 2, 2026 DHS release details multiple specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day and quotes officials emphasizing progress in removing violent or dangerous offenders. There is no fixed completion date or metric provided, so the status remains that progress is ongoing rather than completed.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 02:09 PMin_progress
The claim states DHS/ICE aims to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, effectively promising increased enforcement against high-risk criminal illegal aliens. Public, verifiable evidence shows ICE began 2026 with explicit public disclosures about intensified enforcement and new arrests of individuals deemed among the “worst of the worst.” A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 describes ongoing progress in removing highly dangerous offenders, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. An ICE press release from January 10, 2026 details dozens of arrests in
Minnesota of criminal aliens with serious convictions such as murder and child rape, underscoring a continued, stated intent to prioritize the harshest cases. Together, these sources indicate a deliberate policy orientation toward more aggressive enforcement in 2026, but no fixed completion metric or deadline is provided in the public statements.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 12:00 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an emphasis on high‑profile removals of violent or egregiously criminal illegal aliens. The idea is to intensify enforcement against the most dangerous individuals, continuing into 2026.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced new enforcement actions at the start of 2026. A January 2, 2026 DHS release describes ICE rings in 2026 with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, highlighting early arrests. A January 10, 2026 ICE release in
Minnesota likewise reports dozens of arrests of violent offenders deemed among the “worst of the worst.” These items show ongoing activity consistent with the stated aim.
Current status vs. completion: There is no formal completion date or metric published for the 2026 pledge; the outcome remains ongoing. The January 2026 releases confirm active operations and initial arrests but do not indicate a final tally, end date, or closure of the program.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the January 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing the year’s start with arrests of egregious offenders, and the January 10, 2026 ICE release detailing specific Minnesota cases (e.g., individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related crimes). These provide concrete milestones demonstrating early implementation of the stated objective.
Reliability of sources: The primary sources are
U.S. government communications from DHS and ICE, which are official and field‑level responsive to enforcement actions. While the framing uses provocative language (“worst of the worst”), the releases enumerate actual arrests and the crimes involved, supporting a neutral assessment of ongoing enforcement activity.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 10:09 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' in 2026, framing it as a
New Year’s resolution to increase such arrests. Official evidence supports this aim: a DHS ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces the start of 2026 with continued progress in removing the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens (DHS/ICE, 2026-01-02). A subsequent ICE press release (January 10, 2026) shows concrete enforcement activity in
Minnesota, detailing multiple arrests of individuals described as among the worst offenders (ICE Newsroom, 2026-01-10).
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 07:50 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged a 2026 focus on conducting “more worst of the worst arrests,” i.e., targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The original framing appeared in a December 30, 2025 DHS release announcing ICE’s year-end arrests and articulating the 2026 goal.
Evidence of progress: DHS publicized the 2026 objective in late 2025, and ICE subsequently published a January 10, 2026 press release detailing dozens of arrests in
Minnesota of violent, convicted criminal aliens, including cases of murder and child rape. This demonstrates active enforcement aligned with the stated priority, at least in early 2026.
Assessment of completion status: The claim centers on a continuing policy objective with no fixed milestone or end date. As of mid-January 2026, public reporting indicates ongoing enforcement actions consistent with the stated aim, but there is no concrete completion, metric, or deadline provided to mark formal completion of the 2026 pledge.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary for policy statements and operational updates. While these outlets reliably reflect agency priorities, the framing is policy-promotional, and independent verification of nationwide, year-long metrics is not provided in the available material. The January 2026 arrest releases corroborate ongoing activity, but do not establish a final completion point.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 03:58 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens, continuing through the year with no specified completion date.
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE began the year with arrests of individuals described as part of the 'worst of the worst,' including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with multiple named defendants arrested on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The release frames these actions as ongoing enforcement momentum for 2026.
Assessment of completion status: There is no defined end date or metric in the release. Given the claim contemplates year-long activity and ICE’s ongoing enforcement operations, the 2026 effort is still underway; no final completion or conclusion is reported as of the date examined.
Source reliability note: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release (government agency). While it provides explicit arrests and narrative framing, it reflects an official enforcement stance and selective disclosure of cases. Cross-checking with independent, high-quality outlets can provide broader context on outcomes and impact if needed.
Overall conclusion: The 2026 pledge appears to be proceeding as an ongoing enforcement initiative rather than a one-off action with a fixed completion date. Further reporting throughout 2026 would be needed to determine final results and any shifts in strategy or scope.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 02:43 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct additional arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, signaling an expanded enforcement push without a defined completion deadline. Evidence of progress: ICE and DHS publicized early-2026 enforcement actions, including a January 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing ongoing arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst' and an January 10, 2026 ICE release detailing dozens of arrests of murder, child-rape, and other violent offenders in
Minnesota. Progress assessment: These official reports demonstrate ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026, consistent with the stated aim to increase 'worst of the worst' arrests. There is no published metric, caseload target, or completion date to evaluate final outcomes. Milestones and dates: The January 2, 2026 DHS release and the January 10, 2026 ICE release function as initial milestones, documenting multiple arrests linked to violent offenses and identity of some involved individuals. Additional updates would be required to determine whether the target has broadened beyond these initial actions. Source reliability and framing: The citations come from DHS.gov and ICE.gov, official government portals. While the coverage confirms actions, the use of a qualitative slogan ('worst of the worst') limits comparability to standard enforcement metrics and may reflect framing rather than a formal program metric. Follow-up note: If you want a clearer picture of progress, a follow-up in mid-2026 with enacted arrest counts, removal outcomes, and any policy clarifications would help assess whether the aim translates into sustained, measurable results.
Update · Jan 18, 2026, 12:07 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests described as the 'worst of the worst.' The claim posits a continuing, multi-year effort without a specified completion date. It relies on ICE’s public framing of high-severity arrests as a focal policy aim for 2026.
Progress to date: ICE published a January 2, 2026 press release indicating continued removals of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst,' including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release lists multiple named individuals and jurisdictions, signaling active enforcement at year start. This provides concrete evidence of the policy’s initial implementation phase.
Assessment of completion status: There is no published completion date or end-state for the initiative. The core completion condition—conducting additional 'worst of the worst' arrests with a defined metric—remains unclear and ongoing. Given the absence of a deadline or end-point, the status is best characterized as in_progress.
Milestones and dates: The primary milestone cited publicly is the January 2, 2026 release detailing arrests on
New Year's Eve and
New Year's Day. The press release emphasizes ongoing enforcement rather than a finite target, aligning with an open-ended year-long emphasis rather than a finished program. Additional independent verification could clarify whether a formal metric or quarterly targets exist.
Source reliability and caveats: The leading source is a DHS/ICE official press release, a primary document for government actions. Coverage from other outlets should be consulted to assess broader context and any critiques of definitions used for 'worst of the worst.' Overall, the available evidence supports ongoing enforcement activity in early 2026, with no definitive end date announced.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 09:52 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests targeting the so-called worst of the worst. The official 2026 update clarifies that ICE began the year with continued progress in removing serious criminals, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS, 2026-01-02). This establishes a process and intent to pursue additional high-priority removals throughout 2026, rather than delivering a final, complete tally by a specific date.
Evidence of progress: The DHS release highlights specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, listing multiple individuals convicted of serious crimes and designated as criminal illegal aliens. The named cases illustrate ongoing enforcement activity and a framework for continued operations in the early part of 2026 (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Current status and completion prospects: There is no stated completion date or metric, and the release describes ongoing enforcement rather than a completed program. Based on the official DHS communication, the regime appears to be in the early stages of 2026 with continued enforcement momentum expected, not a fixed endpoint achieved to date (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Reliability note: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, which is the primary source for the policy and operational announcements. While it confirms arrests and intent, it does not provide a comprehensive, independent audit of all arrests or a formal yearly target, so assessments should be updated as more data becomes available (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 07:48 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE vowed in 2025 to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with intensified enforcement, including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, in a January 2, 2026 DHS press release. The release lists multiple specific arrests and frames this as ongoing enforcement against serious offenders. Status as of 2026-01-17: the initiative appears active and ongoing, with early-year arrests indicating initial implementation.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 06:11 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE aimed to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” in 2026. The claim suggests continued prioritization and expansion of enforcement against the most serious offenders.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 03:49 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” illegal aliens. The messaging framed this as an ongoing effort to remove individuals convicted of serious crimes, including offenses against children and violent crimes (Dec 29–30, 2025 DHS releases).
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals described as among the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS press release, Jan 2, 2026). The agency emphasized ongoing removals of violent and serious-crime offenders during
New Year’s operations (DHS Jan 2, 2026).
Status assessment: There is explicit evidence of early-year arrests, but no published completion or end-date for the 2026 effort. The source material lacks a quantified target or a milestone schedule, making a determination of completion premature at this stage (DHS Jan 2, 2026).
Reliability and scope of sources: The primary information comes from official DHS/ICE communications, which are authoritative for policy aims and enforcement actions. Corroboration from other outlets exists but should be weighed against potential framing; nonetheless, official statements indicate ongoing operations rather than a concluded program (DHS Jan 2, 2026).
Incentives and implications: The stated focus on high-severity offenders aligns with public-safety narratives commonly used to justify ongoing enforcement. The absence of a concrete metric or deadline means future policy changes could alter the pace or scope of arrests, depending on administrative priorities and resource allocations (DHS Jan 2, 2026).
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 01:54 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE announced an explicit aim in 2025 to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, with the completion condition being ongoing arrests of individuals categorized as the worst of the worst during 2026. Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release describes arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, signaling continued emphasis on high-severity targets for the new year. Evidence of ongoing status: The 2025-end and 2026-start DHS releases frame the objective as ongoing enforcement, not a one-off action, indicating the promise remains in progress. Relevant milestones: The December 30, 2025 release framed the year-end results and the January 2, 2026 release kick off the 2026 effort with concrete arrest cases. Reliability and limitations: DHS is the primary source for ICE enforcement announcements, but such statements emphasize policy framing and operational rhetoric; external analyses have questioned the size and composition of what is labeled “worst of the worst.”
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 12:04 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 and reiterated for 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: The DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 (ICE Rings in 2026...) announces multiple arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day of individuals convicted of serious crimes, framed as part of ICE’s ongoing effort to remove the 'worst of the worst' from communities. The release explicitly highlights arrests of individuals with offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with named cases across several states. This indicates active enforcement actions in early 2026 consistent with the stated aim.
Assessment of completion status: As this is an ongoing program with no fixed end date or metric specified in the release, there is no completion. The January 2026 actions show initial progress, but the overall goal remains contingent on continued enforcement actions throughout 2026. Independent analyses (e.g., Reason) question the representativeness and scope of the targeting, suggesting that the proportion of arrests deemed 'worst of the worst' may be smaller than portrayed and noting broader concerns about how data are categorized.
Reliability and context: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press release, which provides official, verifiable details on the cited arrests and the framing of the effort. Secondary coverage from reputable outlets corroborates that enforcement actions occurred in early January 2026, while independent critique highlights incentives and data-interpretation considerations. Overall, the claim has seen measurable actions in early 2026, but the reliability of the broader framing invites scrutiny based on data definitions and policy incentives.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 09:57 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would see “more worst of the worst arrests,” i.e., intensified enforcement targeting individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst.” The completion condition (additional arrests of such individuals during 2026) is open-ended with no specific metric or deadline.
Progress evidence: ICE announced the start of 2026 with continued enforcement against the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including arrests around
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. A DHS press release dated Jan. 2, 2026 lists multiple individuals arrested for serious crimes and frames these as part of the initial wave of 2026 enforcement.
Milestones and current status: The press release provides concrete names and locations of arrests conducted at the outset of 2026, signaling ongoing operations rather than a completed program. There is no published end date or final tally in the available material, so the effort appears to be continuing through 2026 as part of an ongoing enforcement approach.
Source reliability and context: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which describe enforcement actions and quote agency officials. While the material confirms initial arrests, it reflects the agency’s framing and incentives around deterrence and removal; independent analyses could provide additional perspective on scope and impact.
Bottom line: As of 2026-01-16, ICE’s “worst of the worst” arrests are underway, with documented arrests at the start of 2026 and no stated end date. The claim remains in_progress, pending further official updates and quantified outcomes over the year.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 08:02 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens. Early 2026 reporting indicates ICE actions described as arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes, framed as part of an ongoing enforcement push (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Progress evidence: The DHS release lists several individuals and jurisdictions where arrests occurred on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, demonstrating active enforcement at the start of 2026 (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Status of completion: There is no published end-date or final tally for the year-long initiative, and the completion condition remains unverified mid-January 2026, indicating the effort is still underway (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Dates and milestones: The official release is dated January 2, 2026, marking the launch of the year’s enforcement push with multiple named cases across various states (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Source reliability and incentives: The primary, official source is a
U.S. federal government agency (DHS). While communications may emphasize public safety narratives, the arrests and named individuals provide verifiable milestones for early 2026 (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Follow-up note: To determine whether the claim fully materializes by year-end, a comprehensive update or year-end release in late 2026 would be needed.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 04:09 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so-called worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Evidence shows the agency publicly framed 2026 as a continuation and expansion of targeted enforcement, rather than a completed project with a hard endpoint. The initial Jan 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release introduced the goal and highlighted arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, signaling an intent to sustain intensified efforts throughout the year.
Progress indicators: Multiple DHS/ICE releases in early January 2026 describe ongoing operations and successive arrests of individuals labeled as part of the worst of the worst, including cases of homicide, aggravated assault, sex offenses, and other serious crimes (dated Jan 5, Jan 13, and Jan 15, 2026). The cadence and content of these releases suggest continuous activity rather than a concluded milestone. No formal metric or deadline for completion was published, only an ongoing enforcement campaign.
Current status of the promise: As of January 16, 2026, there is documented evidence of continued arrests under the same framing, with DHS characterizing operations like “
Operation Metro Surge” and similar efforts as ongoing. There is no indication of a final completion date or a wrap-up of arrests; the material points to an active, year-long initiative rather than a completed action.
Reliability and context: The sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary materials for the claim but inherently promotional and policy-advocacy oriented. While they reliably document arrests and stated aims, they may understate or omit broader context such as judicial outcomes, policy shifts, or potential civilian impact. Independent verification from non-government outlets could provide balance on methodology and incentives involved in announcing ongoing enforcement surges.
Bottom line: The claim remains in_progress—the DHS/ICE enforcement push framed as a 2026 effort to remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens is being carried out, with arrests reported in early January and no published completion date. The current status is ongoing activity rather than a completed, finalized program.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 02:24 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as pursuing “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, including child sexual abuse and violent crime offenders. Evidence of progress: ICE issued a January 2, 2026 DHS press release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, highlighting individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The release lists multiple named individuals across several states and describes continued enforcement efforts at the start of 2026. Reliability note: the source is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official communications, which provides contemporaneous, primary information about ICE enforcement actions.
Status interpretation: the press release confirms initiation of intensified enforcement efforts in 2026, but does not provide a formal deadline or a complete metric, so progress is ongoing rather than concluded. Contextual balance: while the releases emphasize violent and serious crimes, standalone numbers or wider trend analysis for all of 2026 are not yet available in the cited material.
What progress exists beyond the January 2, 2026 release remains unclear from the cited DHS document; no comprehensive quarterly or annual totals are provided in that announcement. The February 2026 period and subsequent enforcement activity would need to be tracked through additional DHS/ICE updates to confirm whether the stated objective is sustained, scaled, or meets any internal thresholds. Any interpretation should consider that the framing reflects policy messaging as well as enforcement actions, and may influence public perception.
Completion conditions: The original press language lacks a specific completion metric or deadline, making a final determination of “complete” impractical at this stage. Given the absence of a defined endpoint, the status is best characterized as in_progress, with initial 2026 actions underway and subsequent updates needed to assess longer-term fulfillment.
Notes on sources and reliability: The primary source is the DHS/ICE official press release dated January 2, 2026, which provides direct details on arrests and the framing of the initiative. For broader verification, independent outlets and watchdog analyses can offer context on arrest composition and trends, but should be weighed against the official numbers and timeline provided by DHS.
Update · Jan 17, 2026, 01:24 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. Public DHS communications explicitly echoed this goal, framing 2026 as a continuation of arrests targeting severely criminal illegal aliens at the start of the year (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress includes ICE announcing a continued wave of arrests at the start of 2026, detailing multiple new apprehensions of individuals convicted of violent or serious offenses, framed as part of ongoing enforcement against the “worst of the worst” (DHS, 2026-01-02).
As of 2026-01-16, there is at least one public update showing ongoing arrests in line with the stated objective, but no published completion date or fixed milestone ending the program. The completion condition remains open-ended by design, with 2026 treated as a continuing enforcement period.
The reliability of these sources is high for official government communications. The DHS/ICE releases focus on enforcement outcomes and target categories, and should be interpreted with the agency’s stated safety and security incentives in mind.
Overall, the claim is best characterized as “in_progress”: the initiative is active with initial arrests publicized, but a final completion point has not been provided. Ongoing ICE/DHS updates will be needed to confirm additional milestones or a defined end date later in 2026.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 10:25 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that their 2026
New Year’s resolution would be to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens, including highly violent offenders and predators. The present assessment checks whether this objective is being pursued in 2026 and whether any progress or milestones have been publicly reported.
Evidence of start and ongoing activity: DHS/ICE released a January 2, 2026 statement announcing continued efforts into the new year with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Subsequent DHS updates on January 5 and January 7, 2026 expanded on arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including offenses such as homicide, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking. These agency posts indicate continuous enforcement activity early in 2026, consistent with the stated goal.
Assessment of completion status: There is no defined completion date or metric in the agency communications, and announcements emphasize ongoing arrests rather than a completed milestone. Based on available official statements, the objective appears to be an ongoing enforcement posture through 2026 rather than a discrete finished target by a specific date.
Dates and milestones: Key public milestones include the January 2, 2026 release detailing initial arrests, followed by January 5 and January 7, 2026 updates highlighting additional cases from various jurisdictions. These dates establish a framework for ongoing progress checks but do not specify total arrest counts or end-of-year targets. The absence of a quantifiable completion condition means progress must be evaluated over time as new updates are published.
Source reliability and caveats: The sources are
U.S. federal agency communications (DHS/ICE), which provide direct official statements and arrest lists. While they confirm intent and reported activity, independent verification of arrest counts or case outcomes is limited in these posts. Overall, the reporting supports the existence of an ongoing 2026 effort, with early-month announcements indicating continued implementation of the stated goal.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 07:56 PMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE announced a 2026 emphasis on pursuing “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The claim is based on a DHS press release from December 30, 2025, which stated: “Our New Year’s resolution for 2026: more worst of the worst arrests.” (DHS, 2025-12-30)
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly launched 2026 with subsequent updates highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and other violent offenses. A January 2, 2026 DHS release reports ongoing “arrests of the worst of the worst” and lists specific cases from that weekend (DHS, 2026-01-02). A January 5, 2026 release reiterates the mission and notes continued arrests and a manpower expansion (DHS, 2026-01-05).
Assessment of completion status: There is no completion date or final metric published for the claim. The available DHS updates indicate ongoing arrests into early January 2026, consistent with an ongoing effort rather than a completed milestone (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05). The completion condition—“ICE conducts additional arrests … in 2026”—remains inherently open-ended and depends on subsequent releases and case progress (DHS, 2025-12-30).
Dates and milestones: The key milestones are the initial December 30, 2025 announcement and the January 2–5, 2026 updates that enumerate arrests of offenders described as the “worst of the worst.” The updates also reference a large increase in manpower, with the January 5 release citing “historic 120% increase in manpower” and “more than 12,000 new officers” (DHS, 2026-01-05).
Reliability and context of sources: DHS/ICE press releases are official government communications and provide direct statements from DHS officials. While the language is assertive and emphasizes public safety outcomes, these sources are the primary evidentiary basis for progress toward the stated goal. The reporting is consistent across multiple DHS updates in early January 2026 (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Bottom line: Based on current public records, the claim is operating as an ongoing policy emphasis in early 2026 rather than a completed milestone. The available evidence shows continued arrests of serious offenders and expanded staffing, but no final completion date or endpoint is provided by DHS (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05). Follow-up on long-term results and any updated metrics should be tracked through DHS press releases through the remainder of 2026 (follow_up_date: 2026-12-31).
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 06:21 PMin_progress
Restating the claim: DHS/ICE publicly stated in late 2025 that their 2026
New Year’s focus would be to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.”
Evidence of progress: In early January 2026, DHS/ICE publicly announced continued arrests of individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and other serious offenses. ICE and DHS communications framed these actions as ongoing enforcement at the start of 2026, indicating that the initiative had begun to translate into arrests.
Evidence of status: As of mid-January 2026, ICE released information about multiple arrests nationwide of violent offenders (e.g., child rapists, murderers, and drug traffickers), suggesting continued execution of the policy direction. No formal completion date was provided, and the statement remains a stated objective rather than a completed program metric.
Dates and milestones: The DHS press materials date the initiative to the new year (January 2026) with successive arrests reported in early January. The lack of a specified completion deadline means milestones are descriptive (arrests announced) rather than numeric or time-bound.
Reliability and caveats: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary but reflect enforcement framing and incentives. Independent outlets have echoed the basic arrest-reports framing but should be read with awareness of policy incentives and ongoing political messaging around immigration enforcement.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 03:56 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the prior year’s emphasis on removing high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: Early January 2026 DHS/ICE press releases describe ongoing arrests of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, kidnapping, and related violent crimes, and note expanded manpower and nationwide activity.
Completion status: No explicit completion date or end-state is provided; announcements frame 2026 operations as ongoing, not finished, so status is best described as in_progress.
Dates and milestones: Jan 2, 2026 (initial arrests announced), Jan 5, 2026 (additional arrests and manpower noted), Jan 6, 2026 (further arrests highlighted). These constitute a continuing campaign rather than a discrete milestone.
Source reliability: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary government communications. Independent confirmation is limited in this set, so interpretations should consider agency framing and incentives.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 01:59 PMin_progress
What the claim states: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to execute "more worst of the worst arrests" as a ongoing effort. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release explicitly frames ICE’s actions for 2026 around continued removals of individuals classified as the worst of the worst, including offenses like aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This establishes an official, public objective to ramp up high-priority arrests in the new year. This confirms an official objective rather than speculative rhetoric.
What evidence exists that progress has been made: ICE announced multiple arrests on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, naming individuals convicted of severe crimes in various states. The release lists cases across
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
New York,
California,
Florida, and more, signaling concrete enforcement actions in the early days of 2026. The press release serves as a milestone for the stated objective and shows active implementation at the outset of the year.
Progress status and outcomes: The information shows initial arrests tied to the 2026 objective, but no published completion date or end-state metric. Without a defined deadline or total annual target, the status remains ongoing rather than completed or failed. Ongoing reporting would be needed to gauge full-year progress.
Reliability and context of sources: The primary source is an official ICE press release, which provides direct statements and arrest details. While credible for confirming intent and actions, independent verification or broader context would help assess the overall impact and incentives involved. The information cited is current to January 2, 2026 but should be supplemented with subsequent ICE summaries for a complete view.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 12:37 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, without a defined completion deadline. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced a January 2, 2026 push, detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other crimes, framing them as part of removing the “worst of the worst” from communities. Current status: The January 2 release marks early-2026 enforcement activity with named cases and national scope, but no comprehensive end date, metric, or full arrest tally is published in that briefing. Source reliability and incentives: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides concrete examples but lacks a complete, independently verifiable accounting; readers should consider policy framing and enforcement incentives when interpreting the impact.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 10:09 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, continuing the focus into the new year.
Evidence of progress exists from an official DHS press release dated January 2, 2026, announcing that ICE began 2026 with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from
American communities. The release details arrests over
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day and names individuals convicted of serious crimes.
Assessment of status: as of mid-January 2026, ICE has publicly reported initial 2026 arrests, indicating active enforcement and early progress toward the stated goal. There is no published end date or quantitative target in the release, so the overall completion status for the year remains open-ended and in_progress.
Milestones and concrete details: the DHS release enumerates specific cases and locations (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida) and lists the crimes for which individuals were convicted. The document labels these individuals as criminal illegal aliens and highlights their prior convictions to illustrate the scope of the arrests. The lack of an explicit metric means progress is evidenced by arrests rather than a fixed completion condition.
Source reliability and neutrality: the information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, which is a primary source for policy and enforcement actions. While the release frames arrests as safety gains, it does not provide broader context on overall population impact or long-term outcomes, so interpretation should remain cautious and corroborated with ongoing enforcement data when available.
Conclusion: the claim is not contradicted by available records; ICE has initiated 2026 with arrests aligning to the stated objective. The status remains in_progress, with continued enforcement actions expected throughout the year.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 07:47 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” i.e., intensified enforcement targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The basis for the claim comes from a DHS press release carrying the New Year’s messaging for 2026, describing an ongoing effort to remove the “worst of the worst” from
American communities. The phrasing used in the release frames 2026 as a year of expanded arrests of individuals with severe criminal histories.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026, announces ICE’s continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens and lists several specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The named individuals include aliens convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses in multiple states. The release explicitly characterizes these as ongoing arrests and removals at the start of 2026, indicating initial execution of the stated policy.
Assessment of completion status: There is clear evidence of initial progress in early January 2026, including multiple high-severity cases. However, there is no explicit completion date or final metric provided for the 2026 effort, consistent with the claim describing an ongoing initiative rather than a discrete program with a fixed end date. Given the absence of a defined end-point, the status remains ongoing (in_progress) rather than completed or failed.
Milestones and dates: Key milestones cited are the January 2, 2026 release date and the accompanying arrests on New Year’s Eve/Day of individuals convicted of serious offenses, such as aggravated sexual assault of a child and murder. The release highlights law-enforcement actions taken at that time, establishing a concrete early-2026 milestone. No further quarterly or annual completion targets are published in the provided source.
Source reliability and limitations: The primary source is a
U.S. federal government agency (DHS ICE) official press release, which is the most authoritative account for this topic. While the release confirms initial arrests and frames the policy as ongoing, it does not provide comprehensive data on total arrests, a formal completion date, or long-term metrics for 2026. Given potential framing in line with enforcement priorities, cross-referencing with additional official ICE updates could further validate ongoing progress.
Follow-up note: Based on the January 2026 DHS release, ongoing reporting should be monitored to determine whether ICE sustains or expands arrests throughout 2026 and to capture any formal milestones or completion indicators.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 04:19 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE purportedly aimed in 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so‑called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, following a
New Year’s message promising continued emphasis on these cases. The initial public framing occurred in late 2025 and was reaffirmed in early 2026 by ICE/DHS communications.
Evidence of progress: On January 2, 2026, ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals described as 'worst of the worst,' including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The update provides specific cases and national distribution of arrests around New Year’s Eve/Day, indicating operational activity consistent with the stated goal for the year (press release: ICE Rings in 2026...).
Current status of the promise: There is no published completion or end-date for the program; the agency frames it as an ongoing enforcement emphasis rather than a discrete, completed milestone. Given the lack of a defined endpoint, the claim remains in_progress as of mid-January 2026.
Dates and milestones: The primary milestone cited is the January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and Day and naming several individuals and jurisdictions. No subsequent end-date or quarterly targets have been publicly released, limiting precision on timing or total caseload expectations for 2026.
Reliability of sources: The core information comes from DHS/ICE official press releases, which are primary sources for agency claims and actions. Coverage is consistent with prior DHS messaging about targeting high-risk individuals, though readers should note the inherent evaluative framing around 'worst of the worst' can reflect policy incentives and campaign-style rhetoric. Cross-checks with independent outlets show broader commentary on ICE enforcement levels but do not contradict the specific January 2026 arrests reported by ICE.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 02:17 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to carry out more arrests of individuals labeled the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens. Evidence shows the agency publicly framed 2026 as a year of intensified enforcement targeting high-priority offenders. DHS press materials from early January 2026 described ongoing arrests and a substantial manpower increase to support those operations, including references to murderers, sex offenders, and other violent criminals. These statements set the tone for an aggressive initiation of the year, with concrete arrest headlines released to accompany the claim.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE issued new-year announcements on January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 detailing multiple arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and noted staffing increases to enable more arrests. The January 2 release explicitly states a 2026 launch with arrests of individuals described as among the worst of the worst, citing cases across several states. The January 5 release reiterates a broader push, listing additional cases and emphasizing a manpower boost (over 12,000 new officers and agents referenced in related materials).
Status assessment: As of mid-January 2026, ICE appears to be executing its stated objective of increasing arrests of high-priority offenders, with official DHS communications portraying ongoing enforcement for the year. There is no publicly posted completion date or explicit metric indicating a cap or end to the program, suggesting the effort remains in-progress rather than completed or cancelled. The reporting is consistent across DHS briefings rather than dependent on a single outlet.
Source reliability and caveats: Primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases, official government communications authoritative for policy and intent. The framing of the program as the 'worst of the worst' reflects agency rhetoric; independent analyses raise questions about the share of arrests involving violent crimes versus non-violent offenses. Cited DHS releases: Jan 2, 2026 and Jan 5, 2026.
Update · Jan 16, 2026, 12:07 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to execute “more worst of the worst arrests,” i.e., a continued emphasis on removing individuals characterized as the most dangerous or criminal, during 2026.
Progress evidence: The official DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE’s initiation of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, listing specific cases and participants as evidence of concrete enforcement actions at the start of the year.
Status interpretation: As of mid-January 2026, ICE has publicly reported initial arrests consistent with the stated objective. There is no published completion date; the completion condition remains the occurrence of additional such arrests throughout 2026, implying ongoing activity rather than a completed milestone.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone is the January 2, 2026 press release detailing
New Year’s Eve/Day arrests. No final completion date is provided, so ongoing progress should be monitored for further arrests and totals.
Source reliability note: The principal source is a DHS press release from the agency responsible for ICE, representing official confirmation of arrests and cases. While it reflects the agency’s framing, it is the most direct baseline for status; corroboration from additional reputable outlets can add context.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 11:53 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests in the new year, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses, framing these actions as continued progress. Additional context: The release lists specific individuals and locations, showing concrete enforcement actions at the start of 2026. Completion status: There is no fixed completion date or metric; as of mid-January 2026, the program appears ongoing with emphasis on intensified enforcement rather than a wrapped milestone. Reliability note: The primary sources are DHS/ICE official communications, which are authoritative for policy and enforcement statements but reflect agency incentives and framing.
Claim status and milestones: The initial 2026 reporting confirms arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day for serious offenses; no end date or quantified targets are provided in official communications. Date anchors: December 30, 2025 (reference to the pledge) and January 2, 2026 (announcement of early arrests). Source reliability: Official DHS/ICE materials are primary sources for policy and enforcement, though independent outlets should be consulted cautiously due to framing.
Current implications: The claim remains in_progress as an ongoing enforcement push without a defined completion criterion; the January 2026 disclosure indicates continued emphasis on arrests of serious offenders. Evaluation will depend on cumulative arrests/removals over the year, given no end date.
Overall assessment: Based on official documentation, ICE has initiated the 2026 push with publicized arrests of serious offenders, framing it as expanded enforcement. The lack of explicit metrics or end dates supports classifying the status as in_progress.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 07:58 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an ongoing push to target and remove individuals described as the most dangerous or recidivist offenders among unlawful entrants.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the initiative at the start of 2026, highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of a continuing effort described as removing the “worst of the worst” from communities. The January 2, 2026 DHS press release lists multiple specific arrests occurring as the new year began, demonstrating active enforcement activity.
Progress toward completion or status: There is concrete activity in early 2026 (arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day and surrounding days), but there is no formal completion metric or deadline published for this initiative. The completion condition remains contingent on ongoing arrests and removals throughout 2026, with no final tally or end date disclosed.
Dates and milestones: The source material includes a January 2, 2026 DHS press release detailing several named arrests and alleged offenders and notes the continuation of the policy stance into 2026. A direct extension from the 2025 message is evident, with the same framing of targeting the “worst of the worst.”
Source reliability and interpretation: The information derives from official DHS/ICE press releases, which provide primary documentation of policy stance and enforcement actions. While the outlet is an official government source, readers should consider that such releases emphasize enforcement outcomes and may reflect policy incentives. Cross-checking with independent reporting (e.g., reputable national outlets) can help balance perspective, though initial evidence confirms active enforcement actions in early 2026.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 06:24 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article asserts that DHS/ICE aims to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, presenting it as a
New Year’s resolution and promising additional arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst.”
Evidence of progress: A focused search of
U.S. government sources (DHS/ICE) and major reputable outlets yields no verifiable public statement, policy document, or official metric confirming a formal 2026 pledge or roadmap centered on “more worst of the worst arrests.” No ICE press release or DHS policy update from January 2026 documents this goal or any related milestones.
Completion status: As of 2026-01-15, there is no corroborated evidence that this pledge has been implemented, operationalized, or tracked with publicly released milestones. The absence of an official completion or progress report suggests the claim remains unverified and potentially unstarted, or possibly misreported in secondary outlets.
Source reliability and notes: The absence of corroboration in official DHS/ICE channels and in high-quality outlets raises questions about the claim’s provenance. If the claim originated from an internal DHS/ICE communication or an unvetted release, that context is not reflected in available public records. Given the policy environment and incentive structures, independent verification from credible, primary sources is essential to assess accuracy.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 03:58 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: multiple DHS/ICE press releases in early January 2026 announce new rounds of arrests targeting individuals convicted of severe crimes, including child rape, homicide-related offenses, domestic violence, and other serious crimes. Specific announcements occurred on January 2, January 5, January 6, and January 12, 2026, detailing arrests across several states. No final completion date was provided for this initiative.
Progress assessment: The public record shows ongoing enforcement activity with new arrests early in 2026, suggesting continued implementation of the pledge. The releases describe individuals arrested and removed or awaiting removal, indicating operational steps have moved beyond rhetoric into action. However, there is no defined end date or metric published to certify completion of the stated objective for the year.
Progress status: As of January 15, 2026, the initiative appears active with multiple arrests reported within the first two weeks of 2026. The lack of a completion metric or deadline means the status remains open-ended and subject to further enforcement actions. Reliability rests on official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for this claim but should be interpreted in the context of departmental messaging.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 02:01 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting individuals categorized as the most dangerous or serious offenders among illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: ICE publicized January 2, 2026 that it began the year with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, framing these arrests as part of removing the “worst of the worst” from communities. The release lists multiple named individuals and jurisdictions, indicating ongoing enforcement activity early in 2026.
Completion status: There is no formal completion date or metric; the completion condition described in the source is simply ongoing arrests during 2026. As of the latest public update (January 2, 2026), ICE has initiated arrests consistent with the stated aim, but whether the program will sustain or conclude a defined set of cases within 2026 remains unknown.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone available is the release dated January 2, 2026 announcing the start of the year’s enforcement push and listing the first set of arrests. No further end-of-year or quarterly milestones are published in the cited materials.
Source reliability: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press release, an official government communication. The narrative is consistent with the claim and provides concrete examples of individuals arrested during the initial phase of 2026. While official, the framing uses a policy-oriented label (“worst of the worst”) that reflects agency terminology rather than an externally verifiable standard of severity beyond the listed convictions.
Follow-up note: Given the ongoing nature of enforcement campaigns, periodic updates through ICE or DHS press releases should be monitored to assess whether additional arrests, broader geographic scope, or any policy adjustments occur throughout 2026.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 12:10 PMcomplete
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to carry out more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst'.
Evidence of progress: ICE released a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests at
New Year’s Eve/Day, naming specific convicted offenders (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) across multiple jurisdictions, indicating concrete enforcement actions at the start of 2026.
Completion status: The stated completion condition—additional 2026 arrests of the 'worst of the worst'—has begun with documented arrests, but there is no final year-end tally or completion declaration; progress is ongoing rather than completed.
Reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, complemented by mainstream reporting that confirms the timing and nature of arrests; information is specific to named individuals and offenses, supporting verifiable progress while recognizing agency framing and terminology.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 10:07 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, including child sexual assault offenders, murderers, and fraudsters.
Evidence of progress: A DHS-ICE release dated January 2, 2026 confirms the initiative for 2026 and reports arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with named cases across multiple states (e.g., TX, NJ,
NC, PA,
CA, FL). This indicates the program was active at the start of 2026 and yielded multiple arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst.” (DHS.gov press release, 2026-01-02)
Assessment of completion status: There is no defined completion date or metric in the release; the completion condition remains the ongoing execution of arrests throughout 2026. Based on the available information, the effort appears to be in early implementation rather than completed, with continued enforcement activity anticipated.
Reliability and context: The primary source is a
U.S. federal government DHS press release, which provides direct details and quotes from agency officials. While the release frames the program as ongoing enforcement, it lacks a formal end-date or quantified targets. This aligns with ICE’s mission to remove high-risk offenders, and the reporting presents official figures and named individuals. (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02)
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 08:07 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year to conduct more arrests of the group it terms the “worst of the worst,” continuing a crackdown on criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS press releases dated January 2 and January 5, 2026 describe ICE arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses during
New Year’s Eve and the start of 2026. The releases attribute the arrests to an enforcement push and emphasize high-severity cases.
Completion status: There is no stated completion date or formal milestone indicating finalization of the initiative. The releases describe ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed task.
Dates and milestones: January 2, 2026 release highlights initial arrests; January 5, 2026 release reiterates the program and lists additional cases. No end date or quantitative targets are provided in the official material.
Source reliability and context: Information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases on DHS.gov, which are primary governmental communications. They provide concrete examples of arrests but reflect agency framing and messaging; independent analyses may vary.
Follow-up note: Ongoing monitoring of ICE arrest totals and any new policy guidance after February 2026 would clarify whether additional milestones or a formal completion condition emerged.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 04:40 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 stated a aim to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, continuing the cycle from late 2025. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests described as the “worst of the worst,” including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and murder (DHS/ICE press releases early January 2026). Additional notes through the first week of January 2026 describe continued enforcement steps and manpower changes intended to amplify removals (early January 2026 releases). Completeness assessment: There is no stated end date or final metric; the objective appears to be an ongoing effort throughout 2026, so the status remains in_progress. Reliability: Official DHS/ICE communications are primary sources for policy messaging and enforcement actions, but should be interpreted in light of institutional incentives; they provide concrete dates and actions without broader outcome data. Overall, the evidence supports ongoing activity rather than completion, with early January 2026 establishing the trajectory.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 02:24 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens in 2026. Evidence from DHS announcements shows ICE publicly framing 2026 as a year of intensified enforcement beginning with New Year’s actions, including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related offenses (Jan 2, 2026 release). Subsequent DHS postings on Jan 5 and Jan 6, 2026 describe ongoing arrests and manpower increases intended to sustain this effort, including mentions of new officers and additional enforcement actions across multiple states. Collectively, these sources indicate the initiative is active and ongoing rather than completed, with concrete arrests and claimed staffing changes reported in early January 2026. The reliability of the sources is limited to official DHS/ICE releases, which frame enforcement in a positive light and may reflect institutional incentives. No independent verification yet available in the period covered; status should be reassessed as more data becomes available. The timeline remains undefined beyond early January 2026, so a concrete completion date cannot be determined.
Update · Jan 15, 2026, 12:38 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, effectively a persistence and expansion of their prioritization for high-severity cases. Evidence of progress exists in official DHS communications early in 2026, signaling operational alignment with that objective (for example, DHS/ICE press materials in early January 2026). Specific examples describe ongoing arrests of individuals categorized as the 'worst of the worst,' including convictions for violent offenses. The period from January 2026 shows sustained activity rather than a completed milestone.
Evidence of progress and activity: On January 5, 2026, DHS/ICE published a press release titled
New Year, Same Mission: ICE Arrests More Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens, detailing ongoing arrests and highlighting cases involving violent offenses (e.g., homicide, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, rape) as part of the January effort. Additional ICE and DHS updates in the first half of January 2026 describe continued operations targeting high-severity offenders, including confirmations of arrests in various jurisdictions. These items indicate the program is actively being pursued rather than shelved. No formal completion date or metric was provided, consistent with the stated completion condition remaining open.
Assessment of completion status: As of 2026-01-14, there is no evidence of a declared end or completion of the initiative; rather, multiple reports from DHS/ICE and affiliated outlets document ongoing enforcement actions centered on high-risk individuals. While the language emphasizes a strategic priority, there is no publicly disclosed milestone or deadline signaling formal completion. The available reporting supports continued activity rather than a concluded program.
Source reliability and caveats: Primary evidence comes from DHS/ICE official communications (DHS.gov and ICE.gov), which are appropriate for assessing government enforcement policy and actions. Secondary reporting (e.g., think tanks and news outlets) corroborates ongoing arrests but varies in framing and scope. Given the political and legal sensitivity around immigration enforcement, interpretations should consider potential messaging incentives from government sources and contemporaneous political context. The core facts — that the agency prioritized and is executing arrests of high-severity offenders in early 2026 — are supported by official releases.
Overall status: The claim remains in progress. The available official statements indicate ongoing operation of the 'worst of the worst' arrest initiative in early January 2026, with no announced completion date to date. The situation warrants follow-up around year-end 2026 to confirm whether the initiative has achieved any formal completion criteria or remains an active ongoing priority.
Follow-up note: A targeted update on 2026-12-31 or when DHS/ICE publishes a year-end enforcement report would clarify whether the initiative reached any completion milestones or continued into 2027.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 10:25 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE asserted a
New Year’s commitment to conduct more arrests of the so-called "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens in 2026, signaling a continuation and expansion of prior enforcement efforts.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued multiple public statements at the start of 2026 detailing arrests of individuals described as among the worst offenders, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, rape, and related offenses. The releases dated January 2, January 5, and January 8, 2026, highlighted arrests across various jurisdictions.
Current status: There is no explicit completion date; early January 2026 activity shows ongoing enforcement in line with the stated objective. As of mid-January 2026, DHS/ICE had publicly documented several arrests but no final end-state or total arrest target was announced.
Reliability and context: Information derives from official DHS/ICE news releases, which are primary sources for the agency’s public communications and enforcement announcements. These sources accurately reflect the agency’s messaging, though they reflect organizational incentives and framing.
Timeline and milestones: Public arrest announcements occurred on 2026-01-02, 2026-01-05, and 2026-01-08, naming individuals convicted of severe crimes. No overarching completion date or aggregate arrest metric was provided in the releases consulted.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 08:57 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Evidence of progress: a DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports ICE began the year with arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' and lists cases across multiple states. The announcement highlights convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes. This indicates enforcement activity aligning with the stated aim, at least in the initial period of 2026. Completion status: there is no published end date or final completion metric; arrests are ongoing and no conclusion is documented. Dates and milestones: the key milestone is the January 2, 2026 press release, with arrests occurring on
New Year's Eve and
New Year's Day and continuing into early 2026. Source reliability: the information comes directly from a
U.S. government DHS/ICE press release, a primary and authoritative source for this topic.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 06:32 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 goal to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" of criminal illegal aliens, continuing from late 2025.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced
New Year 2026 actions, including arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as ICE began the year with ongoing enforcement efforts (DHS.gov, Jan 2, 2026).
Additional progress notes: Follow-up DHS posts in early January 2026 reiterated the maintenance and expansion of enforcement against individuals labeled as the "worst of the worst" (DHS.gov, Jan 5, 2026).
Status of completion: There is no stated completion deadline or metric; the announcements describe ongoing enforcement activity rather than a finished program, so the completion condition remains unmet.
Milestones and dates: Key public milestones include the Jan 2, 2026 press release beginning 2026 enforcement efforts and the Jan 5, 2026 update framing the year’s ongoing arrests. A Jan 6, 2026 note about manpower and continued removals indicates sustained activity rather than a completed program (DHS.gov).
Reliability and sourcing: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary for policy and enforcement announcements. They provide concrete dates and stated objectives but reflect messaging favorable to enforcement; cross-checks with independent outlets are limited for this tightly defined claim.
Overall assessment: The claim that ICE aims to carry out more arrests in 2026 is being acted upon through repeated official disclosures in early January 2026, indicating ongoing enforcement against individuals described as the "worst of the worst." Given the lack of a fixed completion date or endpoint, the status is best described as in_progress.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 03:59 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced in late 2025 that 2026 would emphasize “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on criminal illegal aliens deemed the most dangerous. The promise was to increase arrests and removals throughout 2026 without a specific completion deadline.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly marked the start of 2026 with continued enforcement targeting high-risk individuals. A January 2, 2026 DHS press release lists multiple arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes, framed as continued “worst of the worst” enforcement (DHS, 2026-01-02).
Further momentum: A January 5, 2026 DHS release reiterates the same mission and highlights a broader set of high-severity cases, noting a substantial manpower increase (120%) and ongoing arrests across jurisdictions (DHS, 2026-01-05).
Current status vs. completion: There is clear evidence of ongoing arrests early in 2026, but no final tally or end date is defined. The completion condition remains unverified and contingent on continued enforcement actions through the year (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Source reliability: The information comes directly from DHS press releases, the authoritative government source for ICE activities. These statements reflect official framing of enforcement priorities and specific arrests, and should be read as policy-in-action updates rather than independent analyses.
Notes on context: The reports emphasize the intended focus on the most dangerous offenders and do not provide a numeric target or end date, making “completion” contingent on ongoing enforcement actions throughout 2026 rather than a discrete milestone.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 02:06 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, continuing the prior framing of targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that it began the year with arrests of individuals convicted of severe offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud), signaling ongoing enforcement efforts consistent with the stated goal.
Completion status: The release frames these actions as part of a broader ongoing effort to remove dangerous aliens from communities; no comprehensive metric or final completion criterion has been disclosed, so the status remains in_progress.
Dates and milestones: The DHS/ICE press release is dated January 2, 2026, and lists arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day as part of the initiative.
Reliability notes: The primary evidence comes from a DHS/ICE press release, a government source; corroboration from independent outlets would help assess broader impact and context.
Bottom line: As of 2026-01-14, the initiative is underway with reported arrests, but a formal completion date or universal metric has not been provided.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 12:17 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE purportedly aimed to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026, signaling an intensified focus on arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst.'
Evidence of progress: In early January 2026, ICE announced arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, stating these actions occurred over
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day as part of its ongoing effort against high-priority targets.
Current status and completion prospects: There is no defined quantitative completion metric or deadline; the year 2026 remains in progress with ongoing enforcement actions expected to continue throughout the year.
Key dates and reliability: The DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 documents specific arrests and names, illustrating operational focus. As a government source, it is authoritative for the actions described, though it does not provide a final tally or completion criteria.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 10:22 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 is to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The campaign language appears in DHS/ICE communications surrounding the start of 2026. (DHS 2026-01-02, DHS 2026-01-05, DHS 2026-01-07)
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly announced multiple arrests tied to this focus at the start of 2026, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. The January 2, 2026 posts detail arrests across several states and highlight ongoing enforcement into the new year. (DHS 2026-01-02)
Current status: There is explicit mention of ongoing arrests in early 2026, with no formal end date or completion metric published. Because the announcements describe ongoing enforcement activity without a defined deadline or success criterion, the status remains in_progress rather than complete or failed. (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05; DHS 2026-01-07)
Source reliability and notes: The information comes from U.S. Department of Homeland Security official press content, providing primary, government-sourced details about ICE operations. While policy framing should be considered, it offers verifiable dates and arrest details. (DHS official pages 2026-01-02, 2026-01-05, 2026-01-07)
Milestones and dates: Key milestones include
the January 2, 2026 release detailing initial arrests,
the January 5, 2026 update with additional arrests, and the January 7, 2026 report highlighting further arrests, indicating ongoing activity rather than a single event. (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05; DHS 2026-01-07)
Overall assessment: Based on publicly available material, the claim is best characterized as in_progress, with active arrests continuing into January 2026 and no published completion date or metric defining closure. (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05; DHS 2026-01-07)
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 08:05 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE promise framed as a 2026
New Year’s resolution to execute "more worst of the worst arrests" targets increased arrests of
high‑risk criminal illegal aliens throughout 2026, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided in the statement.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that it would pursue continued arrests of violent and serious offenders, highlighting ongoing enforcement and sometimes noting expanded manpower to support operations. DHS press releases dated January 2 and January 5, 2026 enumerate specific individuals arrested for crimes from aggravated sexual assault of a child to murder and fraud, illustrating action under the stated approach.
Status assessment: The official statements and arrest announcements indicate ICE began the 2026 effort with concrete arrests and a messaging emphasis on targeting serious offenders. Because the claim describes an ongoing objective rather than a single milestone, and because 2026 continues beyond January, the evidence supports that progress is underway but not yet complete.
Notes on sources and reliability: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages dated Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026. While authoritative for enforcement actions, they reflect agency framing; independent accountability would require broader corroboration. Overall, the information shows initiation and early arrests under the stated objective.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 06:08 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” expanding enforcement against the most serious criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE reiterated the commitment at the start of 2026, publishing a Jan 2, 2026 press release detailing multiple arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes (aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, etc.). The release framed these actions as ongoing progress in removing “the worst of the worst” criminals from communities.
Current status: The public record shows at least a concrete set of arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day 2025–2026 and a January 2, 2026 update, indicating continued enforcement activity under the stated policy. There is no formal completion milestone or end date published for 2026, and the claim remains ongoing pending further announced operations and arrests.
Dates and milestones: The key milestones identified are (a) the December 30, 2025 announcement noting
the New Year’s resolution to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” and (b) the January 2, 2026 press release enumerating specific individuals arrested in the early days of 2026. Source material comes from DHS/ICE official pages, which provide the dates and personnel involved in the arrests.
Reliability note: All information derives from
U.S. federal government sources (DHS/ICE) and presents arrests tied to stated enforcement priorities. While sources are official, readers should consider that government framing may emphasize severity of crimes and prioritize public messaging; cross-checks with court records or independent outlets can supplement context. The cited material is consistent on both the policy promise and the initial 2026 arrests.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 02:15 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to perform “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on individuals characterized as the most dangerous in the criminal illegal alien population.
Progress evidence: ICE issued a January 2, 2026 release announcing arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with arrests conducted on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. This confirms an initial enforcement step in 2026 (DHS press release).
Current status: The release documents specific cases and indicates ongoing enforcement targeting high-severity offenders, but there is no defined quantitative completion date or final metric in the public statement, so the initiative appears to be ongoing rather than a single milestone.
Reliability note: The primary source is a
U.S. government DHS/ICE press release dated 2026-01-02, which provides official arrest details. Coverage from other outlets may summarize the action, but the DHS release is the authoritative record for initial actions under this pledge.
Update · Jan 14, 2026, 12:28 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, continuing a high-intensity enforcement posture without a defined metric or firm deadline.
Evidence of progress: ICE released a formal 2026 kickoff announcement on January 2, 2026, detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The statement frames these actions as part of ongoing efforts to remove the most serious offenders from communities (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Progress status: The January 2, 2026 release shows at least an initial set of arrests aligned with the pledge, demonstrating movement beyond 2025 into 2026. There is no published completion metric or deadline; the actions appear ongoing rather than completed. The December 30, 2025 article announcing
the New Year’s resolution confirms the intent, but not a finite end point.
Context and milestones: The January 2 release lists multiple specific cases and locales (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida), indicating a nationwide emphasis on high-priority arrests. The lack of a quantified target or cutoff date means progress is measured by continued enforcement activity rather than completion of a defined program.
Source reliability and neutrality: The primary sources are DHS/ICE official communications (DHS.gov), which are high-quality government sources. Coverage from other outlets in this period often restates the DHS releases; no major independent investigations are evident in the provided materials. Given the official framing, the reporting remains factual but may reflect a policy stance prioritizing aggressive enforcement without independent benchmarks.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 10:32 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more 'worst of the worst' arrests of criminal illegal aliens. Evidence: DHS/ICE press release (Jan 2, 2026) confirms ICE began 2026 with arrests targeting individuals convicted of severe crimes, listing specific cases from
New Year’s Eve and Day. Completion status: no final completion or endpoint is stated; progress is evidenced by announced arrests, but the overall program status remains ongoing and uncompleted as of the date. Reliability note: DHS/ICE official release provides concrete arrest data for the start of 2026; coverage is limited to initial actions and does not detail metrics or end dates.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 08:09 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced an explicit aim for “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling a continued intensified enforcement push against high-priority criminal illegal aliens. The 2025 article and 2026 implementation material frame this as a
New Year’s resolution and ongoing program rather than a completed action. The effect is framed as a year-long priority rather than a completed metric.
Evidence of progress exists in official DHS/ICE communications. On January 2, 2026, ICE released a press statement updating that arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst” had continued into the new year, listing multiple cases across several states (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Additional context comes from the December 30, 2025 DHS release announcing the prior year’s results and reiterating the stated goal for 2026, including explicit examples of recent arrests and
the New Year’s resolution to conduct more of these cases (DHS/ICE press release, 2025-12-30).
Status of the promise: there is no published completion date or final milestone indicating closure; the communications frame ongoing enforcement activity through 2026, with continued press releases highlighting new arrests. The nature of the claim is policy/political messaging accompanied by individual case announcements rather than a discrete, verifiable endpoint.
Reliability of sources: DHS/ICE official press releases are primary sources for these claims and provide concrete examples of arrests and dates. Reporting from other outlets varies in framing, but the core details—dates, arrest categories, and named individuals—are drawn from the agency’s own communications. Given the official origin, the information is reliable for understanding the program’s stated direction, though it reflects agency incentives and messaging as with any government communications.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 06:29 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct more arrests targeting the so‑called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of official framing: a DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 proclaims a renewal of the mission with ICE pursuing “more worst of the worst” arrests and notes a large manpower expansion. The release provides examples of weekend arrests of individuals convicted of homicide, rape, kidnapping, and other serious crimes, indicating initiation of the program in early January 2026. There is no defined completion metric or deadline published, consistent with an ongoing enforcement posture.
Progress indicators: The DHS release ties the new year to intensified enforcement and cites concrete arrests and a manpower increase (over 12,000 new officers/agents). This signals early progress, but the lack of a formal completion date means the status remains ongoing rather than completed.
Assessment of completion: No evidence of a completed end state or formal closure as of late January 2026. Without a published milestone, the initiative remains in_progress awaiting further updates from DHS/ICE. Independent analyses exist but do not overturn the official framing and initial enforcement activity.
Reliability of sources: The primary source is an official DHS press release, which is authoritative for the stated initiative but presents information with an enforcement stance. Cross‑checking with independent data on ICE arrests can provide broader context, but does not change the current status derived from the DHS material.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 03:56 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year of expanding “worst of the worst” arrests, signaling an ongoing commitment to targeting individuals described as the most serious criminal illegal aliens. This language appeared in ICE/DHS communications at the start of 2026. The status as of mid-January 2026 indicates the initiative was active but not yet completed.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release announcing arrests of individuals labeled among the “worst of the worst,” including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Subsequent DHS pages in the first week of January 2026 highlighted ongoing arrests and related enforcement activity.
Assessment of completion: There is no final tally or end-date published; the pledge is an ongoing enforcement objective for 2026 rather than a completed milestone. The available official statements confirm continued executions of arrests, not a conclusion.
Source reliability and caveats: DHS/ICE press releases are official primary records for enforcement actions and provide concrete arrest details. While the framing is emphatic, the reported actions are grounded in specific charges and cases; independent coverage varies in quality and may reflect differing interpretations of the data.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 02:04 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly stated a 2026 emphasis on arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, framing it as a continued expansion of efforts seen at year start. The target is ongoing arrests of individuals with serious prior crimes, announced throughout early January 2026 (including homicide, aggravated sexual offenses, and related violent crimes). No formal, fixed completion date was provided for this promise.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE released multiple press posts in January 2026 detailing arrests nationwide of individuals described as the “worst of the worst.” Examples include cases involving aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, rape, and other violent offenses (e.g., January 2, 5, and 6 posts). The agencies also highlighted a manpower increase (e.g., 12,000 new officers) as enabling the continued campaign.
Completion status: As of January 13, 2026, there is public reporting of ongoing arrests fitting the defined category, with no announced end date or finalized completion metric. The announcements indicate ongoing operations rather than a completed set of cases, aligning with an in-progress status rather than a finished action.
Milestones and dates: Key milestones include
the January 2, 2026 launch of the renewed push with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud; January 5, 2026 reporting of widespread arrests including homicide, stalking, rape; and January 6, 2026 highlighting a large manpower boost and a high-profile case. These DHS/ICE press releases serve as concrete indicators of activity rather than a completed tally.
Source reliability note: The information comes directly from DHS/ICE official press releases and DHS pages, which are primary sources for agency actions. These outlets are authoritative for policy and enforcement announcements, though, as with any official messaging, may emphasize achievements and framing that align with incentives. Cross-checking with independent, high-quality outlets shows consistent reporting of arrests but may vary in emphasis on individual cases and policy rhetoric.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 01:13 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE claim described a
New Year’s resolution to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, focusing on high-risk, violent, or particularly dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms ICE began 2026 with multiple arrests targeting individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” listing several cases (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and detailing specific individuals arrested over
New Year’s Eve and Day. Additional corroboration appears in ICE and DHS communications highlighting ongoing enforcement activity in early 2026. Completion status: There is no fixed completion date or metric provided; the policy appears ongoing, with initial arrests documented, suggesting the objective remains in progress through early January 2026. Notable milestones:
The January 2, 2026 DHS release enumerates named individuals and their convictions as part of the initial wave, signaling the initiation of the broader plan for 2026. Source reliability: Official government sources (DHS, ICE) provide concrete arrest cases and dates, though they reflect the government’s framing and priorities. Follow-up considerations: Continued monitoring of ICE press releases and DHS updates through 2026 will be needed to determine sustained progress toward the stated objective.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 10:09 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued official press releases on January 2, 2026 announcing arrests of individuals described as among the worst criminal illegal aliens, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. A subsequent DHS release on January 5, 2026 reiterates intensified enforcement and highlights ongoing arrests of individuals with serious criminal histories, supported by a claimed substantial increase in ICE personnel. Reliability note: Both items are DHS official releases, producing a consistent, primary-source record of arrests and stated policy objective at the start of 2026.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 08:26 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article claimed DHS/ICE aimed to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE published multiple press releases in early January 2026 detailing arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes and announced a substantial manpower increase to support enforcement. Neither release provides a final completion date or quantifiable end-point, indicating an ongoing program for 2026. Completion status: No defined completion milestone is stated; the program appears active with ongoing arrests and staffing increases, but not finished. Relevant dates and milestones: January 2, 2026 press release announcing start-of-year arrests; January 5, 2026 press release emphasizing expanded manpower and continued arrests. Source reliability: Official DHS/ICE press releases are primary sources for policy and enforcement actions; they accurately reflect government narrative but should be considered within the context of incentives and framing. Overall assessment: The claim is best characterized as in_progress given the lack of a defined end date and ongoing actions.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 04:15 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article described DHS/ICE pledging a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to pursue more “worst of the worst arrests.” Evidence: DHS press releases in early January 2026 detail arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, indicating active enforcement aligned with the stated goal. Completion status: No formal completion date or metric is provided; ongoing announcements suggest continued enforcement activity but no declared end point. Reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary but reflect the agency’s framing and incentives; independent corroboration would further validate the broader impact.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 02:31 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release describes arrests made on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with specific cases and jurisdictions listed. Completion status: There is no defined completion milestone or deadline; the claim reflects ongoing enforcement actions rather than a finished event. Relevant dates and milestones:
The January 2, 2026 press release marks the initial enforcement milestone, with arrests tied to
New Year’s Eve/Day 2025 into 2026. Reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS press release, which provides verifiable details of arrests; other coverage at the time referenced these actions as the year's initial enforcement push.
Update · Jan 13, 2026, 12:21 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious offenses in late 2025 and early 2026 as part of its enforcement push. Progress status: the initiative is underway, with initial arrests announced; a comprehensive year-end tally would be needed to declare full completion. Relevant dates and milestones: December 30, 2025 (announcement of the 2026 pledge); January 2, 2026 (initial batch of arrests disclosed). Reliability of sources: primary information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which reflect the agency’s framing; independent corroboration from high-quality outlets provides context but is not strictly required to verify the basic progression. Overall assessment: progress is occurring, but final completion status for the full year 2026 remains to be determined through subsequent releases and data.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 10:28 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" of criminal illegal aliens, expanding enforcement against individuals deemed among the most dangerous or serious offenders. The article and official wording frame this as a continuation and intensification of prior policy, with a specific emphasis on high-severity cases.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 5, 2026 explicitly announces ICE arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, highlighting a large-scale manpower boost (cited as more than 12,000 new officers and agents) and concrete arrests over a recent weekend. The release foregrounds multiple cases (e.g., homicide, aggravated stalking, rape) and notes the expanded capacity to pursue such arrests nationwide.
Current status: As of 2026-01-12, there is no completion milestone reported or achieved; the DHS release signals an ongoing program for 2026 rather than a completed objective. No publicly disclosed end-date or quantified annual target is provided in the initial announcement. The available information indicates the initiative is active, with implementation steps underway.
Reliability notes: The primary sources are DHS press materials, which reflect the government’s official framing of ICE operations and staffing increases. Independent corroboration of individual arrests is limited in this timeframe, and some outlets question broader narratives around the proportion of “worst of the worst” arrests; nonetheless, the DHS release itself confirms the policy direction and early activity rather than an independent verification of all arrests.
Follow-up date: 2026-07-01
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 08:25 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE framed 2026 as a year of “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intensified ongoing effort to arrest and remove individuals labeled as the most dangerous offenders. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued Jan 2, 2026 and Jan 5, 2026 press releases detailing arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, and announcing a substantial manpower increase. Completion status: No final completion date or endpoint is provided; the releases describe an ongoing campaign with continued enforcement activity anticipated, not a completed milestone. Milestones and dates: Early 2026 releases on Jan 2 and Jan 5 enumerate specific arrests across multiple states and reference a 120% manpower increase, but no closed completion benchmark is published. Source reliability and context: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are authoritative for policy and enforcement framing; independent corroboration would strengthen verification. Overall, the record shows active enforcement activity in early 2026 consistent with the claim, but whether it achieves a final, terminated outcome remains unknown.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 06:33 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE statement depicted in the source claims that 2026 would be defined by more 'worst of the worst arrests.' The phrasing explicitly positions ongoing arrests of individuals termed the “worst of the worst” as a continuing objective for 2026, based on a 2025 DHS press release. The claim is an asserted policy/operational aim rather than a completed action as of the current date.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE began 2026 with continued enforcement actions, with early January 2026 DHS press releases reporting arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, kidnapping, rape, domestic violence, and drug offenses. The releases are dated January 2, January 5, and January 7, 2026, indicating ongoing operational activity aligned with the stated aim. These are official DHS communications, providing authoritative confirmation of activity.
Status of completion: No formal completion metric or deadline was disclosed for the 2026 objective. The ongoing stream of press releases through the first week of January suggests the process is active but not finished. Given the absence of a defined end date or numeric target, the status remains in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Milestones and dates: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 press release announcing
the New Year’s resolution and subsequent January 2026 announcements detailing arrests in multiple states of individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., rape of a child, homicide-related offenses, domestic violence, human trafficking). These items demonstrate concrete enforcement actions in line with the claim and show momentum into January 2026. All milestones are drawn from official DHS/ICE communications.
Source reliability and neutrality: The information derives from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for policy emphasis and enforcement actions. While these communications reflect ICE’s enforcement priorities, they provide verifiable statements about actions taken and announced in the period assessed. Readers should consider the agency’s messaging framing when interpreting the broader impact of the program.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 03:58 PMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was a
New Year’s resolution to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The article framing implied a continued emphasis on high-severity criminal illegal aliens for removal during 2026. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests at the start of 2026, detailing individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The January 2, 2026 DHS ICE press release explicitly describes these arrests as part of the year’s initial escalation against the “worst of the worst.” Completion status: There is concrete evidence of early 2026 arrests, but no official end-date or comprehensive metrics to determine final completion for the year; the initiative appears ongoing rather than finished. Reliability note: The primary source is a
U.S. government agency (DHS/ICE), which provides authoritative information on enforcement actions; additional corroboration could come from subsequent ICE updates throughout 2026. Milestones and dates: January 2, 2026 release announcing multiple arrests; named individuals and jurisdictions across several states. Follow-up considerations: To evaluate final status, monitoring ICE press releases and DHS updates through 2026 will be necessary to confirm scope, duration, and any formal completion criteria.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 02:02 PMin_progress
The claim originates from a December 30, 2025 DHS/ICE press release that described a
New Year’s resolution for 2026: to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.”
The verbatim statement appears in the article as the stated objective for the coming year. There is no accompanying metric, deadline, or explicit completion condition other than continued arrests of individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst.”
The source indicates a policy stance rather than a concrete program with defined milestones, and there is no publicly verifiable evidence of specific arrests or a set timetable for 2026 in subsequent DHS/ICE communications as of early 2026.
Given the lack of measurable criteria or a schedule, progress cannot be confirmed as complete; nor is there clear evidence of failure. The claim remains a stated objective without published milestones.
Reliability of the DHS source is reasonably high for official statements, but the extraordinary phrasing warrants cautious interpretation and monitoring for follow-up updates across DHS/ICE communications and independent reporting.
Overall, the claim remains in progress pending verifiable milestones or dashboards from ICE detailing arrests under the “worst of the worst” rubric.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 12:10 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' illegal aliens, continuing the prior year's emphasis on high-risk criminal cases. Evidence in early January 2026 shows ICE publicly framing the new year as a continuation and expansion of this effort, with multiple press releases announcing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related offenses. The explicit language mirrors the stated
New Year’s resolution to pursue 'more worst of the worst arrests' into 2026 (no formal metric was provided). The information is drawn from DHS/ICE press releases published at the start of 2026, which frame these actions as ongoing operational activity rather than a completed program.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 10:17 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals deemed among the 'worst of the worst'. Evidence: a DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 describes ICE kicking off 2026 with arrests of
high‑risk criminal illegal aliens convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The completion condition remains ongoing enforcement activity throughout 2026 with no fixed deadline, so the status is best described as in_progress.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 07:52 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The source material is a DHS press release indicating that ICE began 2026 by announcing arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses, framed as targeting the “worst of the worst.” This demonstrates progress toward the stated aim, with concrete arrests disclosed on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The release emphasizes continued removal efforts targeting violent and predatory offenders, including sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, across multiple jurisdictions.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 03:49 AMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: DHS/ICE pledged to conduct more ''worst of the worst'' arrests in 2026.
Evidence of progress: On January 2, 2026, ICE publicly announced arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of
New Year’s Eve/Day enforcement actions, signaling initial movement toward the stated goal (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Status assessment: The action is ongoing with at least this initial wave of arrests; no final completion date is provided and there is no announced end to the effort.
Reliability note: The primary source is the DHS/ICE official press release, which provides the clearest record of arrests and stated objectives; subsequent coverage should be cross-checked against official updates for ongoing milestones.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 01:51 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 objective to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced
the New Year 2026 initiative with a press release detailing arrests carried out on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (Jan 2, 2026 release). This demonstrates active enforcement aligned with the stated objective at the start of 2026 (DHS/ICE press release).
Status assessment: As of Jan 11, 2026, reported arrests indicate ongoing enforcement toward the 2026 goal; no final completion date was provided and the program remains active. The release characterizes the actions as part of continued progress for 2026, not a concluded milestone.
Milestones and dates: Key initial milestones include arrests announced on Jan 2–3, 2026, highlighting individuals from multiple countries and offenses (pedophilia-related offenses, murder, fraud, etc.). No overarching end date is specified, consistent with an ongoing objective through 2026.
Source reliability note: The information derives from an official DHS/ICE press release (DHS.gov) dated Jan 2, 2026, which is a primary source for federal enforcement actions. Additional coverage from other outlets mirrors the same official statements, but the DHS release remains the authoritative record for the stated objective and initial actions.
Contextual note: The reporting outlets cited in early summaries include mainstream and mainstream-leaning sources; for this assessment, the official DHS/ICE release is the pivotal source to establish the presence and scope of the 2026 goal and early actions. The assessment avoids partisan framing and sticks to verifiable enforcement milestones.
Update · Jan 12, 2026, 12:15 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in late 2025 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Evidence of progress: DHS press releases dated January 2, 2026 announce ongoing arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst,' including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, and fraud, indicating continued enforcement activity. Additional progress notes: a January 5, 2026 release reiterates the expanded effort and cites a large manpower increase as enabling more arrests of violent and sex-crime offenders. Completion status: there is no fixed deadline or metric in the public statements, and the language frames arrests as an ongoing 2026 initiative rather than a completed milestone. Reliability: DHS primary sources (
DHS/ICE press releases) provide the official account; independent corroboration from other reputable outlets is limited in the provided materials, so interpretation should consider potential framing effects. Conclusion: based on available official statements, the claim remains in_progress as an ongoing program with periodic updates.
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 09:55 PMin_progress
Restatement of the claim: The DHS/ICE statement from late 2025 framed 2026 as a year with a focus on “more worst of the worst arrests.” The cited language positions the effort as an ongoing prioritization rather than a one-time operation.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced in early 2026 that arrests of individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst” continued into January. A January 2, 2026 release highlights arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. A January 5, 2026 release emphasizes a manpower expansion (over 12,000 new officers) and ongoing arrests of homicide, stalking, kidnapping, and rape cases. A January 6, 2026 release further documents high-profile arrests against multiple violent offenders.
Assessment of completion status: As of 2026-01-11, ICE has produced multiple announcements detailing ongoing arrests and a substantial increase in personnel, which aligns with the stated objective of expanding “worst of the worst” enforcement in 2026. However, there is no formal, published completion criterion or end date, and the releases describe ongoing activity rather than a completed target; thus the status is best described as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Reliability and sources: Information comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official press releases, which provide concrete names, charges, and manpower figures. While DHS/ICE framing emphasizes public safety outcomes, independent verification of broader impact or long-term trends would require cross-source corroboration. Overall, DHS.gov is the primary and most authoritative source for this claim in the given period.
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 07:49 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided for completion.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE published multiple press releases in early January 2026 detailing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes as part of ongoing enforcement actions across various jurisdictions.
Notable milestones: January 2, 2026 release announces the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' including pedophiles, murderers, and fraudsters; January 5, 2026 release highlights continued arrests and an expanded manpower claim (over 12,000 new officers) and lists weekend arrests of murderers, gang members, and rapists.
Reliability of sources: information comes directly from DHS/ICE official press releases, which are primary sources for
U.S. government enforcement actions; coverage is limited to official statements and arrest tallies without independent verification of every case.
Context note: the completion condition remains undefined (no metrics or deadlines), so the status is best characterized as ongoing toward the stated objective rather than completed.
Overall assessment: given the lack of a defined end condition, the claim remains in_progress as ICE continues to pursue arrests described as the 'worst of the worst' in early 2026.
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 06:17 PMin_progress
Restating the claim: DHS/ICE promised in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests.” The verbatim prompt aligns with a reformulated
New Year’s messaging across ICE communications.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly announced a new year push in early January 2026, detailing arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The DHS press releases on January 2, 2026 and January 7, 2026 enumerate multiple individuals arrested nationwide during
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day periods, with explicit examples and jurisdictions.
Completion status: There is concrete evidence of arrests occurring in the early phase of 2026, but the source material does not provide a formal completion metric, deadline, or total target number. Therefore, the claim cannot be deemed complete; it remains in progress with ongoing enforcement activity and no specified end date.
Dates and milestones: January 2, 2026 – DHS/ICE press release outlining initial arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (pedophilia, murder, fraud). January 7, 2026 – Follow-up release highlighting additional arrests and noting a manpower increase. These dates establish early milestones but not a completion themselves.
Source reliability note: The principal sources are
U.S. federal government communications (DHS/ICE). These are high-quality, official records for the actions described; however, as with any enforcement messaging, readers should consider potential framing and incentives in the presentation of “worst of the worst” arrests.
Follow-up: For ongoing status, monitor DHS/ICE press releases and updates on the agency’s official site and monitor for any monthly or quarterly tallies or formal completion announcements.
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 03:56 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens. Completion condition: ICE would conduct additional arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst” during 2026, with no specific metric or deadline provided. As of early 2026, the initiative shows ongoing activity rather than a defined completion. Evidence of progress: ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, among others, indicating concrete cases under the initiative. Current status: The January 2026 materials confirm arrests under the initiative, establishing momentum at the start of 2026; no end date or final completion report has been published. Key milestones:
The January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release constitutes the first publicly documented outcome of the 2026 effort. Source reliability: Information comes from the official DHS.gov press release, a primary government source; while authoritative for policy, readers should consider official framing when assessing broader impact.
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 01:55 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated a aim to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, pursuing arrests of the most serious criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: multiple DHS/ICE press releases in early January 2026 announce continued and expanded arrests of individuals classified as the worst of the worst, including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, rape, and related violent or serious crimes (e.g., January 2, 2026; January 5, 2026; January 6, 2026). Each release highlights a wave of new arrests across various states and notes an expanded manpower footprint to support removals. Status alignment: the announcements indicate ongoing activity consistent with the stated goal, but there is no formal completion or end-date; progress is incremental and open-ended within 2026. Reliability note: DHS/ICE press releases are primary sources for this claim; they clearly articulate the stated objective and cite concrete arrests, but the rhetoric framing as “new year’s resolution” should be interpreted as policy framing rather than a quantified metric. Dates/milestones: reports cover arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day (Dec 31–Jan 1) and ongoing arrests through Jan 6, 2026, with mentions of increased staffing (e.g., “more than 12,000 officers”).
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 12:05 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE announced an intent for further enforcement in 2026 focused on “more worst of the worst arrests.”
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms ICE began 2026 with targeted arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release presents a list of specific individuals arrested on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day in multiple jurisdictions.
Promised progress (who/what/when): The release identifies multiple criminal illegal aliens from various countries and assigns crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with arrests occurring on December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026 as the kickoff of the year’s efforts.
Status assessment: The goal to carry out more “worst of the worst” arrests in 2026 is ongoing, with at least an initial set of arrests completed early in the year. There is no stated end date or completion metric beyond “throughout 2026,” so the claim is not yet fully realized for the entire year as of January 11, 2026.
Source reliability note: The principal source is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security press release (DHS.gov), a primary and official government outlet. Additional coverage from secondary outlets aligns with the DHS statement but varies in detail; the DHS release provides the authoritative milestones for early 2026.
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 10:24 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting dangerous criminal illegal aliens, with no specified completion date. Evidence indicates the program is actively underway, not completed, with multiple press releases announcing ongoing arrests at the start of 2026. The exact metric for “more” is not defined in official materials beyond counts of arrests and the categorization of targets as “worst of the worst.” (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05; DHS, 2026-01-07).
Progress and actors: DHS/ICE publicly announced the initial 2026 arrests on January 2, 2026, highlighting individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, among others (ICE Rings in 2026…). A subsequent January 5 release reiterated the expansion, citing a large manpower increase and arrests of murderers, gang members, and rapists (
New Year, Same Mission…). By January 7, 2026, additional arrests were reported, including sexual assault of a child, assault, human trafficking, and other serious offenses (ICE Arrests Worst of Worst…). These releases reflect ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed milestone. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05; DHS, 2026-01-07).
Completion status: There is no completed milestone to declare the goal finished, as completion dates were not provided and the releases describe continuing operations. The evidence shows sustained activity across the first week of 2026, consistent with an in-progress objective rather than a concluded program. No internal metrics or end-date are disclosed in the public DHS materials reviewed. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05; DHS, 2026-01-07).
Dates and milestones: January 2, 2026 — initial round of arrests publicized; January 5, 2026 — expanded personnel and additional high-severity arrests; January 7, 2026 — further arrests highlighted. The releases emphasize continued execution of enforcement priorities rather than a wrap-up event. None of the sources provide a projected completion date or a final tally for 2026. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05; DHS, 2026-01-07).
Source reliability and limits: The primary verifications come from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are authoritative for policy statements and enforcement actions but present the program in a positive framing. No independent verification of all arrests cited is provided in the public DHS postings, and there is no disclosed methodology or thresholds for what constitutes “the worst of the worst.” Given the official nature of the sources, the information is reliable for reporting announced actions, but readers should note potential incentives in presenting enforcement outcomes. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05; DHS, 2026-01-07).
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 07:51 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article claimed DHS/ICE aimed to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, signaling an ongoing push to target and arrest highly dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: Beginning in early January 2026, DHS/ICE publicized multiple arrests of individuals described as among the "worst of the worst" across various jurisdictions, and it highlighted a manpower increase of more than 12,000 officers to support removals (DHS press releases dated 2026-01-02, 2026-01-05, 2026-01-06, 2026-01-07, 2026-01-08).
Current completion status: No formal end-date or completion milestone has been announced. The communications indicate ongoing operations and a continuing campaign throughout January and into early February 2026, rather than a completed target.
Milestones and details: Reported arrests include individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, kidnapping, rape, drug trafficking, and other violent offenses. DHS emphasizes sustained year-start momentum and publicly frames the effort as a continuing initiative rather than a concluded event (DHS 2026-01-02 to 2026-01-08).
Source reliability and context: Sources are official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary communicators of agency actions and policy emphasis. As with all government-sourced materials, these should be read with awareness of institutional incentives and messaging, but they provide direct evidence of ongoing arrests and personnel changes during the period described.
Follow-up note: Given the ongoing nature of enforcement campaigns, a follow-up should assess year-end totals and any formal completion declarations on or after 2026-12-31 (follow-up date: 2026-12-31).
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 03:51 AMin_progress
The claim is that DHS/ICE aimed to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. Publicly available evidence as of early January 2026 shows ICE explicitly launching 2026 with a focus on arrests of individuals characterized as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress includes the January 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, with named cases of convictions such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud across multiple jurisdictions (ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
There is no published completion or termination date for this promise; the status remains ongoing as authorities continue standard enforcement activity into 2026. The December 2025 article framing the claim and the January 2026 DHS release together indicate ongoing efforts rather than a completed milestone.
Concretely, the milestone cited is the public arrest announcements on
New Year’s Eve/Day and subsequent days listing specific individuals, rather than a metric-based deadline. The reliability of the reporting rests on official DHS/ICE press materials, which are primary sources for these claims, though interpretation may vary by outlet.
Overall, the status is best characterized as in_progress, given ongoing arrests and no explicit end date or final completion condition disclosed.
Update · Jan 11, 2026, 01:52 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, targeting violent and highly criminal illegal aliens. The statement frames 2026 as a continuation or expansion of high-profile enforcement against individuals convicted of serious crimes, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided for completion.
Evidence of progress: Publicly accessible material surrounding the claim is limited to end-of-2025 statements and early-2026 press outreach. A DHS/ICE press-release-type presentation circulated around Dec 31, 2025 described arrests of violent offenders and framed 2026 as increasing such actions. A January 2026 DHS listing or recap (e.g., “Ice rings in 2026” articles) appears in secondary reportings, but official DHS pages are not consistently accessible in a stable, citable form as of 2026-01-10.
Status assessment: There is no verifiable, independently confirmed record of quantified progress (counts, timelines, or completed operations) for the 2026 pledge as of January 10, 2026. Given the absence of concrete milestone data or an official DHS press release detailing 2026 arrests to date, the claim remains in-progress rather than complete.
Key dates and milestones: The reference date for the pledge is the start of 2026, with the stated objective described in late December 2025 DHS communications. As of 2026-01-10, no published, corroborated DHS milestone (e.g., number of arrests, locations, or categories of offenders) has been publicly documented beyond initial announcements.
Source reliability and notes: Information originates from DHS/ICE statements and press-dispatch outlets (e.g., EIN Presswire reproductions of DHS material) and media aggregators. While DHS is the primary source, some pages and subsequent repackagings have limited direct access to stable official pages, requiring caution when assessing progress. Where possible, rely on official DHS/ICE press releases for precise figures or milestones.
Follow-up: If available, provide the official DHS/ICE press release or the ICE Arrest and Removals data portal that specifies 2026 arrest counts, targets, and completion status.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 11:58 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE aimed to conduct more 'worst of the worst arrests' during 2026, signaling an ongoing expansion of enforcement against individuals labeled the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release documents ongoing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of the stated initiative. Completion status: As of 2026-01-10, ICE had publicly reported progress at the start of 2026, but no full-year completion or final tally is yet available. Milestones and dates:
The January 2, 2026 release detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day constitutes the initial milestone; no later milestones are available in the sources reviewed. Source reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides direct statements and arrest details. Independent corroboration would strengthen context, but the agency’s own reporting confirms early 2026 activity.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 10:04 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS press release announces ICE’s initiation of 2026 with arrests targeting individuals convicted of serious crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, carried out on
New Year's Eve and
New Year’s Day.
Current status vs. completion: The release outlines multiple arrests and frames them as ongoing enforcement activity for 2026, but provides no completion criteria, metrics, or deadlines. Therefore, the claim remains in_progress, with concrete milestones still to be realized over the year.
Dates and milestones: The press release lists specific individuals and jurisdictions (e.g.,
Harris County, TX;
Morris County, NJ;
Forsyth County,
NC;
Philadelphia County, PA) and identifies the crimes for which they were convicted. This constitutes an initial milestone demonstrating execution of the stated goal early in 2026.
Source reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides authoritative detail on arrests and assertions of enforcement intent. While official messaging reflects policy objectives, it does not include independent verification of long-term outcomes; corroboration from additional monitoring would strengthen assessment.
Follow-up context: Given the ongoing nature of ICE enforcement operations, subsequent updates through 2026 will be needed to determine whether the trajectory toward "more worst of the worst arrests" is sustained and whether any formal completion criteria emerge.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 07:49 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling an expanded priority on apprehending highly dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE announced new-year 2026 actions with multiple arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including homicide, sexual assault, and child exploitation, across several states (news releases dated Jan 2 and Jan 5, 2026, plus ongoing updates). The January 2 release highlights arrests of individuals with aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud convictions, while January 5 emphasizes a push tied to manpower increases and continued enforcement against violent and sex-crime offenders. The releases collectively show continued activity aligned with the stated objective, but there is no formal completion date or quantified milestone implying a finished program by year-end 2026.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 06:14 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 focus on expanding arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, signaling a continued emphasis on high-severity cases in 2026. Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests over
New Year's Eve and
New Year's Day 2026, listing individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (
Washington, DC area and other jurisdictions) as part of the rollout for 2026. Reliability context: the primary source is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with additional coverage from widely accessible outlets that echoed ICE’s statement. Completion status: as of early January 2026, ICE stated the initiative is underway with notable arrests; there is no final completion date, suggesting the effort continues throughout 2026 rather than a single milestone.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 03:53 PMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE vowed in 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: a DHS ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces multiple arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. This demonstrates the initiative is underway but does not indicate a final tally or end date. The release frames these actions as ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026, without specifying metrics or deadlines beyond the year.
What progress exists: the press release provides concrete, named cases and locations (TX, NJ,
NC, PA,
CA, FL, etc.) and describes the targets as individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst.' It lists a series of specific convictions (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) and the jurisdictions involved. This establishes initial milestones rather than a completion, aligning with an ongoing enforcement posture through 2026.
Completion status assessment: no final completion date is provided, and DHS/ICE terms the actions as ongoing enforcement. The publication signals the start of 2026 activity but does not confirm a comprehensive annual cap, total arrests, or end-of-year fulfillment. Given the lack of a defined endpoint or quantitative target, the status remains partial and contingent on subsequent arrests throughout the year.
Source reliability and notes: the information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, a primary and reliable government source. While the stance reflects enforcement priorities, the document names actual individuals and crimes, enabling independent verification of specific cases. This supports a cautious interpretation of progress as real but incomplete at this stage.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 01:55 PMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE pledge stated in late 2025 that their 2026
New Year’s resolution would be to conduct more arrests of the so-called worst of the worst, including serious criminal cases. The source framing explicitly ties the promise to 2026 as an ongoing goal rather than a completed action. The claim does not present a measurable metric or deadline beyond the general intent for 2026 (no specific arrest targets or date).
Evidence of progress: As of 2026-01-10, there is no publicly available DHS or ICE press release or official update confirming the initiation, scale, or progress of a renewed campaign under this phrasing beyond the December 30, 2025 statement. The DHS page from 2025-12-30 provides the initial articulation but does not document subsequent actions, arrests, or milestones in January 2026. No independent, high-quality reporting appears to document concrete arrests tied to this pledge in the early weeks of 2026.
Status assessment: The completion condition—ICE conducting additional arrests characterized as the “worst of the worst” during 2026—has not been evidenced publicly by early January 2026. Without verifiable milestones, counts, or timelines from DHS/ICE or corroborating reporting, the claim remains in_progress pending transparent updates or disclosed outcomes. Given the absence of explicit metrics, the evaluation relies on the lack of accessible, credible follow-up data.
Source reliability note: The primary referenced source is a DHS press-style release dated 2025-12-30, which is an official government outlet. While it provides direct quotation of the pledge, it does not supply subsequent data on executions or outcomes. No corroborating coverage from high-quality, independent outlets has been found to date to validate concrete progress or completion of the stated objective.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 12:07 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The claim asserts that DHS/ICE intends to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, following a
New Year’s pledge to increase such enforcement actions.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced the 2026 initiative on January 2, 2026, detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses carried out on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The release lists multiple named individuals and jurisdictions, indicating concrete enforcement activity has begun (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Status assessment: The available information shows early 2026 arrests aligned with the stated objective of targeting violent or serious-crime offenders among removable populations. There is no formal completion milestone or deadline published; the initiative appears ongoing rather than finished, consistent with an “in_progress” designation.
Dates and milestones: The primary milestone to date is the January 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing initial arrests of individuals described as part of the “worst of the worst” category, with specifics on several cases across multiple states (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Source reliability note: The reporting comes from an official DHS press release, a primary source for agency policy and enforcement actions, providing direct attribution to ICE actions. Given the source, information is authoritative for announced arrests, though the scope and metrics of the broader pledge remain uncoupled from any binding or time-bound targets.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 10:01 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that in 2026 they would pursue more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Current progress: ICE began 2026 with public announcements of arrests described as 'worst of the worst,' including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS, 2026-01-02). This indicates a continued push into high-profile enforcement aimed at the most dangerous offenders. The evidence so far shows ongoing actions rather than a completed program, with new arrests rolling out at the start of the year. Reliability note: the initial claim originates from official DHS/ICE communications, and the reported arrests align with ICE’s ongoing public framing of high-priority cases (DHS, 2026-01-02; ICE WoW page).
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 07:57 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE aimed to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. Evidence shows ICE framed 2026 as a year of continued removal efforts for the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms arrests framed as part of this objective, including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 05:15 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of those labeled the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, extending the cadence from the end-of-year 2025 activity.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE has publicly announced multiple 2026 enforcement actions, beginning with January 2, 2026, highlighting arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (ICE press release on rings in 2026). Additional DHS updates on January 5, 6, and 7, 2026 further documented arrests of pedophiles, violent assailants, human traffickers, and other serious offenders across various jurisdictions. These updates indicate continued operational activity under the stated objective.
Progress status: The initiatives are actively underway, with a series of announced arrests in early January 2026 and references to expanded manpower or ongoing removal efforts (e.g., Jan 7 release notes mention a manpower increase). There is no publicly stated completion date, and the releases frame the activity as an ongoing priority rather than a completed program.
Milestones and dates: Key milestones include
the January 2, 2026 announcement of initial arrests (
New Year’s Eve/Day actions) and subsequent January 5–7, 2026 postings detailing additional arrests across multiple states. The reporting emphasizes concrete individuals and crimes but does not publish aggregate metrics or a fixed end date, consistent with an ongoing enforcement posture.
Source reliability and context: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for agency enforcement actions. While these outlets are authoritative for policy statements and arrest announcements, readers should consider that such communications are framed to emphasize law-and-order messaging and the agency’s stated priorities. Overall, the sources corroborate that 2026 enforcement activity targeting the 'worst of the worst' is underway, with ongoing updates expected.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 02:05 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, following the 2025 closeout. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, naming multiple individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) across several states. Completion status: There is no defined completion date or metric; the announcements indicate ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed program. Notable milestones and dates: January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release highlights specific arrests and provides a list of individuals and their offenses, marking the initial phase of the stated objective. Source reliability: The information comes directly from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press release, a primary official source for ICE actions; no corroborating non-government sources are necessary to establish the reported events, though additional local reporting can provide context on jurisdictions involved.
Update · Jan 10, 2026, 12:17 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens in 2026, following the 2025 year-end framing. Evidence to date shows ongoing implementation of that approach through sequential ICE press releases naming new arrests and highlighting alleged perpetrators as part of the 'worst of the worst' narrative. The most concrete milestones to date are DHS/ICE press releases dated January 2, 5, and 7, 2026, announcing multiple arrests of individuals convicted of heinous crimes (e.g., sexual assault of a child, murder, human trafficking, and other violent offenses) across several states. Taken together, these items indicate active execution rather than a completed program; there is no single completion date or metric published, and the rollout appears to be continuing into January 2026. Source reliability is high, as the information comes from official
U.S. government DHS/ICE pages that directly announce arrests and provide case summaries. The coverage so far aligns with the stated policy thrust, though it remains to be seen how this translates into long-term metrics or scope through the full year.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 10:24 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE policy framed as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, including those labeled as the most dangerous offenders. The directive is not accompanied by a fixed metric or deadline, but implies ongoing enforcement emphasis throughout 2026. The current assessment treats this as an ongoing objective rather than a completed program.
Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces the start of 2026 with “continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens” and cites arrests on
New Year’s Eve and Day of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud). The release provides several named cases and locations, indicating active enforcement under the stated framing. This represents an initial milestone early in 2026 rather than a final closure.
What remains unclear or in progress: There is no published completion date or total target number for 2026 arrests in the official release, so the scale and duration of the effort remain open-ended. While the January 2 announcement demonstrates immediate action, the overall annual outcome (whether it meets an implied “more” than prior years) will depend on subsequent actions and reporting later in 2026. Ongoing enforcement data and quarterly or yearly DHS/ICE briefings would be needed for full assessment.
Reliability and context: The primary sources are DHS/ICE press materials, which provide official statements and arrest details. Additional analyses from reputable outlets and watchdogs may contextualize the classification of “worst of the worst” and the broader enforcement trends, but should be weighed against the DHS framing and any potential biases. Overall, the sources cited here are official and verifiable for tracking a governmental enforcement stance.
Current status and milestones: As of 2026-01-09, ICE has publicly reported early-year arrests under the stated policy and framework, marking initial progress toward the 2026 objective. The absence of a fixed end date or numeric target means the claim remains in_progress rather than complete or failed. Continued reporting throughout 2026 will be needed to determine final outcomes and whether the objective is sustained or adjusted.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 07:56 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly pledged for 2026 to carry out more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release states ICE began the new year with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes, listing multiple specific offenders as part of
New Year’s Eve/Day enforcement actions. This demonstrates concrete enforcement activity early in 2026.
Completion status: There is evidence of initial arrests, indicating progress toward the stated aim. However, no final completion date or year-end metric is provided, and the year 2026 remains ongoing, so the status is best described as in_progress rather than complete.
Source reliability: The information comes from an official
U.S. government agency (DHS/ICE), which provides primary documentation of enforcement actions. The specifics (names, origins, crimes) are presented as arrest outcomes and reflect the agency’s framing.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 06:25 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE announced a 2026 focus on conducting more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens, signaling an ongoing enforcement push with intensified resources.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE released ongoing updates at the start of 2026, including arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes and a reported manpower increase (~12,000 new officers/agents) to drive continued operations. January 2, 2026, and January 5, 2026 press releases document arrests and expanded enforcement. Specific cases include violent offenses such as homicide, aggravated sexual assault, and related crimes.
Current status: There is no defined completion date or metric; the agency portrays this as an ongoing campaign through 2026, with multiple updates indicating continued activity rather than a completed milestone.
Reliability note: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary sources for agency actions. Framing uses the “worst of the worst” label, so readers should interpret with awareness of policy framing while noting verifiable dates and arrests.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 04:00 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing a prioritization of high-severity cases among criminal illegal aliens. The source article frames this as a
New Year’s resolution for expanded enforcement in 2026.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued formal 2026 announcements detailing ongoing arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” with press releases dated January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026. These releases highlight arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, kidnapping, fraud, and related offenses across multiple states (DHS/ICE press material, Jan 2026).
Current status: The announcements indicate continued enforcement activity at the start of 2026, with concrete case examples and named individuals. There is no provided completion date or metric to declare the promise fulfilled; the program appears to proceed as an ongoing enforcement posture rather than a discrete, time-bound project.
Milestones and dates: Key milestones include
the January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 DHS/ICE press releases detailing specific arrests and the scope of enforcement, including mentions of new manpower and intensified operations. No final completion or end date is stated, consistent with an ongoing operational objective rather than a completed program.
Source reliability and neutrality: The information comes from official DHS/ICE communications published on DHS.gov, which are primary sources for agency statements and actions. Given the topic’s policy and enforcement orientation, readers should consider potential framing in official releases, but the reporting relies on verifiable, contemporaneous agency announcements without reliance on lower-quality outlets.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 02:00 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly stated a 2026
New Year’s objective to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst.” The basis for this claim comes from a DHS press release dated January 2, 2026, which frames ICE’s actions at the start of 2026 as ongoing progress in removing high-risk offenders from
the United States (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress: The DHS release lists arrests made on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day 2026, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related offenses (DHS press release, 2026-01-02). The release attributes these arrests to ICE and quotes DHS officials describing them as part of “removing the worst of the worst” from communities (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Completion status: There is no fixed completion date or metric provided in the official release. The January 2026 report indicates ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026 but does not confirm a complete execution of a defined end condition. Therefore, the status is best characterized as ongoing progress through 2026 (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Source reliability: The evidence comes from an official
U.S. government DHS/ICE press release, which is a primary source for the claim. While it provides explicit arrest data for a short period (
New Year’s Eve/Day 2026), it does not offer a comprehensive, long-term metric or timeline for 2026, limiting evaluation to documented early-2026 actions (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Reliability note: As with any official law enforcement statement, the report reflects the agency’s framing and incentives. The information should be contextualized with independent verification where available and considered alongside ongoing enforcement reporting throughout the year (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 12:16 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s 2026 commitment to conducting “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE issued a public update in early January 2026 announcing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, with individuals convicted of offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes, corroborated by agency briefings and distribution outlets. Reliability note: The primary attribution comes from ICE/DHS communications, supported by secondary press-distribution coverage; both point to concrete arrests and specific cases, though the overarching metric remains ill-defined. Completion status: There is no fixed end date or quantified target for the broader objective in 2026, and the announcements describe ongoing actions rather than a final, complete tally, indicating the claim remains in_progress. Overall assessment: Available official materials show procedural adherence to the stated policy direction with documented arrests at the start of 2026, but a formal completion or final year-end tally is not yet established within the sources reviewed.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 10:13 AMin_progress
Restatement of claim: DHS/ICE pledged in late December 2025 that 2026 would see “more worst of the worst arrests.” Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE published multiple announcements in early January 2026 detailing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes across several states, and cited a 120% increase in manpower to support enforcement. Completion status: No official completion date is provided; announcements describe ongoing arrests over a span of days, indicating the initiative is active rather than finished. Notable milestones: December 30, 2025 pledge; January 2, 5, and 6, 2026 arrest reports. Source reliability: Information is from official DHS/ICE pages, which are primary sources for enforcement actions; reporting is consistent across multiple dated posts.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 07:53 AMin_progress
Restated claim: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution to conduct more “worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, targeting convicted criminal illegal aliens for removal.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE released a January 2, 2026 press release announcing the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (examples named across several states). This indicates that the stated objective has begun to materialize and that arrests occurred on
New Year’s Eve/Day as part of the effort.
Status and milestones: There is no formal completion date or metric published for 2026 in the available official releases. The January 2, 2026 update documents multiple individuals arrested early in the year, demonstrating ongoing activity rather than a concluded campaign. The absence of a defined end date or explicit nationwide completion target means the effort remains ongoing and unquantified as to end-state.
Source reliability: The information comes directly from U.S. Department of Homeland Security official press material (DHS.gov) and reflects ICE’s public statements and arrest announcements. These primary government sources are appropriate for tracking official enforcement actions, though they reflect policy viewpoints and framing typical of government communications. No independent peer review is available for the specific arrest claims, but the details (names, offenses, offenses) align with standard ICE enforcement reporting.
Follow-up note: Given the open-ended nature of the 2026 goal, a follow-up on 2026-12-31 or after a full year’s end would help determine whether the objective yielded a measurable, complete, or extended set of arrests across the year.
Scheduled follow-up · Jan 09, 2026
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 04:44 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests.” Progress evidence exists as ICE publicly announced
New Year arrests on January 2, 2026, highlighting multiple individuals described as the “worst of the worst” with convictions for violent or severe crimes in various jurisdictions. The release documents arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, framing the actions as ongoing enforcement momentum into 2026 (DHS press release, 2026-01-02). Reliability note: DHS/ICE is the primary source for the arrests; corroboration from independent outlets is limited at this early stage but supports the announced arrests and framing of a 2026 enforcement emphasis.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 03:28 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge described as a 2026 goal to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' without a specific completion deadline, announced in 2025 and framed as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026.
Evidence of progress: ICE began 2026 with public statements of ongoing arrests targeting individuals labeled as among the 'worst of the worst,' including offenders convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS/ICE press releases dated Jan 2, 2026 and surrounding days).
Ongoing status: Subsequent DHS releases in early January 2026 describe continued arrests across states and note expanded manpower, with multiple named cases involving serious crimes. There is no published completion metric or deadline; the record indicates an ongoing enforcement effort rather than a completed milestone as of early January 2026.
Reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which provide primary information about arrests and policy framing. While useful for tracking agency activity, they reflect government messaging and case enumerations rather than independent verification.
Update · Jan 09, 2026, 12:57 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more 'worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens, including at-risk categories such as predators and violent offenders (no specific metrics or deadlines were provided).
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms ICE began the year with arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst,' listing multiple defendants across states for crimes including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release explicitly attributes the arrests to 2026
New Year activity and quotes ICE officials praising the results.
Evidence of status: The announcements document specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (Dec 31–Jan 1) and name several individuals and jurisdictions, indicating tangible enforcement actions rather than a completed program. There is no formal completion date or metric indicating end of the effort; the actions appear to be part of a continuing priority rather than a singular milestone achieved.
Dates and milestones: The DHS article was released on 2026-01-02, detailing arrests that occurred around 12/31/2025 and 01/01/2026, including cases in
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida, and others. The roster includes indictments for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related charges.
Reliability of sources: Primary information comes from a DHS/ICE official press release, a government agency, which is a direct source for ICE enforcement actions. Cross-reported summaries from secondary outlets echo the same arrests but should be treated as ancillary; the DHS release itself is the most authoritative.
Overall assessment: The claim is partly borne out by concrete arrests announced at the start of 2026, indicating ongoing emphasis on high-priority arrests. Given the absence of a defined endpoint or completion criteria, the status should be regarded as in_progress rather than complete.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 10:16 PMin_progress
What the claim states: DHS/ICE proclaimed a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 of conducting more arrests targeting the so‑called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, including child predators and violent offenders.
What evidence exists of progress: A DHS/ICE press update from late December 2025 highlighted past arrests of the 'worst of the worst' and signaled continued enforcement into 2026. Early January 2026 reporting references ICE publicly framing arrests as continuing the initiative, with several briefings or press notes quoting ICE on new enforcement actions.
Completion status: The completion condition is not tied to a fixed metric or deadline, and no explicit end date is published. Available reporting indicates ongoing enforcement actions framed as the 'worst of the worst' in early 2026, but there is no documented closure or final tally to declare completion.
Dates and milestones: Key references are the December 30, 2025 DHS release and contemporaneous January 2026 announcements noting continued arrests. No formal, published milestone list or quantitative targets have been disclosed.
Reliability of sources: Primary information comes from official DHS/ICE communications, which are authoritative for policy announcements but are framed to emphasize enforcement outcomes. Coverage from secondary outlets reproducing ICE language corroborates the framing but should be interpreted in light of agency messaging.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 08:08 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE statement promised in 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens, expanding beyond prior efforts. The initial framing: the 2025 closeout emphasized continued aggressive enforcement targeting serious offenders, and the 2026 messaging reframed that as a
New Year’s resolution for “more worst of the worst arrests.” (DHS/ICE, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE released notices during the holiday period and early 2026 announcing arrests of individuals described as “worst of the worst,” including offenses such as child rape, aggravated assault, and drug offenses. The agency framed these actions as ongoing enforcement against serious offenders, with public rollouts tied to
New Year’s Eve/Day actions and subsequent days. (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02).
Current status versus completion: The completion condition requires continued arrests throughout 2026 with no fixed metric. As of early January 2026, DHS communications indicate ongoing enforcement actions but no declared endpoint or final tally, so the status is best described as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Dates and milestones: Notable items include the December 30, 2025 release detailing arrests of offenders convicted of heinous crimes and
the January 2, 2026 release signaling continued enforcement into 2026. These establish initial milestones for the year’s enforcement activity. (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02).
Reliability note: Sources are official DHS/ICE press materials, primary communications from the agency. While these reflect the administration’s enforcement stance, independent corroboration would strengthen assessment of broader impact; DHS materials remain the authoritative record for announced actions. (DHS/ICE primary sources).
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 06:21 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article claimed DHS/ICE planned to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, signaling an expanded enforcement push against high‑priority criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: On January 2, 2026, ICE issued a formal press release announcing the start of 2026 with arrests described as the "worst of the worst," detailing cases convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud.
Assessment of completion status: The release describes ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026 but provides no metric, deadline, or explicit completion condition. Therefore, the claim cannot be deemed completed and remains in_progress, with these arrests representing initial milestones.
Dates and milestones: No final completion date is provided; a January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release marks the initial milestone and signals continued actions throughout 2026.
Source reliability: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release (dhs.gov), which is a primary government communication. This enhances reliability for the announced arrests, though it reflects official framing and incentives. Cross‑verification with independent reporting corroborates the announcements but does not extend independent outcome data.
Sources: ["
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/02/ice-rings-2026-with-more-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-including"]
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 03:57 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated a 2026 emphasis on 'more worst of the worst arrests' targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 reports arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, indicating concrete enforcement actions at the start of 2026. Status of completion: The release shows initial actions consistent with the claim but provides no end date or completion metric, suggesting ongoing enforcement rather than a finished milestone. Dates and milestones: Release date 2026-01-02; arrests listed across multiple states, with crimes including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Source reliability note: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, a primary government source; independent corroboration would add context on scope and longer-term outcomes.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 02:01 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in early 2026 to conduct more arrests of people they label as the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, framing it as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026. The commitment was articulated in a DHS press release and reiterated in subsequent DHS updates at the start of 2026 (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-06).
Evidence of progress: ICE began 2026 with multiple high-profile arrests across
the United States over
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes (DHS, 2026-01-02). A subsequent DHS release on January 6 highlighted additional arrests, including a case with 13 indecency-with-a-child convictions, and noted a large manpower increase to support these operations (DHS, 2026-01-06).
Current status of completion: The new arrests have occurred, signaling ongoing activity consistent with the stated aim to arrest the 'worst of the worst' in 2026. There is no published end date or completion metric, so the status remains ongoing as of early January 2026, with continued enforcement actions expected through the year (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-06).
Reliability note: The sources are official
U.S. government DHS/ICE press releases and DHS pages, which provide primary information on enforcement actions. While these releases emphasize law-enforcement accomplishments, they reflect the agencies’ perspective and framing of "worst of the worst" as the targeted cohort; independent verification of individual cases is limited to the agency disclosures. (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-06).
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 12:11 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that
the New Year 2026 outreach would involve “more worst of the worst arrests” of dangerous criminal illegal aliens, including child sexual offenses, murder, and fraud.
Progress evidence: ICE publicly announced on January 2, 2026 that arrests targeting individuals described as the “worst of the worst” took place over
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, with multiple named individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Status of completion: There is at least an initial set of arrests completed at the outset of 2026; the project appears ongoing rather than completed, as no final deadline or wrap-up has been specified and further enforcement actions are plausible in the period ahead (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Dates and milestones: Release date and arrest details are dated 2026-01-02, noting arrests on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, including at least 10 named individuals across multiple states. The page frames this as the start of 2026, with continued pursuit of the policy described.
Source reliability: The primary source is a
U.S. government DHS/ICE press release (official, contemporaneous record). While other outlets report on the same events, the DHS release provides the canonical details and names; no evident manipulation or low-quality sourcing is evident in the official document.
Note on ambiguity: Information is limited to early-2026 arrests; whether the stated objective will result in sustained, ongoing enforcement actions remains to be seen as more actions occur later in 2026.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 10:08 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in 2025 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026 as a
New Year’s resolution to remove the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE published a January 2, 2026 press release announcing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, highlighting individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, framed as removal of the “worst of the worst.”
Current status: There is no fixed completion date; the initiative is described as ongoing enforcement into 2026, with momentum shown by the early-year arrests.
Milestones: The January 2, 2026 release names multiple cases and locations (e.g.,
Harris County TX,
Morris County NJ,
Philadelphia PA, among others) representing concrete early 2026 actions under the initiative.
Reliability note: Information comes from a DHS/ICE official press release, a primary government source, which provides direct evidence of stated progress but should be supplemented with ongoing reports for full-year assessment.
Follow-up: To evaluate full-year fulfillment, monitor ICE arrest releases throughout 2026; proposed follow-up date for assessment is 2026-12-31.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 07:59 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article quotes DHS/ICE promising in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with ongoing enforcement actions targeting individuals described as the 'worst of the worst,' including specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day 2026 (e.g., multiple individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud; public DHS press release dated 2026-01-02).
Completion status: There is no defined completion deadline or metric in the announcements; the program appears to be ongoing enforcement activity rather than a concluded milestone. A 2026-01-02 DHS release confirms continued arrests but does not declare a final end state.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone noted is
the January 2, 2026 DHS press release describing the initial wave of arrests at the start of 2026, with named individuals and jurisdictions (
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida, etc.). There is no stated end date or completion condition beyond the implied ongoing enforcement posture for 2026.
Source reliability: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications (DHS.gov press release). These are authoritative for policy statements and arrest announcements on the agency’s enforcement actions; cross-checking with additional coverage (e.g., secondary outlets) is limited due to concerns about potential sensational framing in some non-government sources. Overall, official sourcing supports the existence of continued 'worst of the worst' arrests in early 2026.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 04:05 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on criminal illegal aliens—including serious offenders.
The January 2, 2026 DHS press release frames this as ICE beginning the new year with continued progress and announcing specific arrests of individuals convicted for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (
New Year’s Eve/Day actions listed).
The press release identifies multiple named individuals and their crimes, signaling active enforcement early in 2026 (DHS, 2026-01-02). The statement itself does not specify a metric or deadline, only that ICE rang in 2026 with these removals of “the worst of the worst.”
Progress evidence: The DHS release provides concrete examples of arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including at least a dozen named individuals from various countries (
Mexico,
Honduras,
Jamaica,
Dominican Republic,
Philippines, etc.) and offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes (DHS, 2026-01-02).
The news indicates an ongoing enforcement posture at the start of 2026, consistent with the stated aim of intensified enforcement against serious offenders (DHS, 2026-01-02). Secondary coverage reiterates the arrests but relies on the same DHS source.
Completion status: As of 2026-01-07, no published end-date or quantified completion milestone exists for the broad pledge. A confirmed set of arrests at year start shows progress, but the mandate remains in progress without a defined metric. The primary source is an official DHS release; corroboration comes from secondary reproductions of the same content.
Dates and milestones: January 2, 2026: arrests announced for individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, etc., with listed jurisdictions. No further milestones or deadlines are provided. Reliability note: DHS is the authoritative source for the stated actions; secondary outlets reproduce the content without independent long-term verification.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 02:00 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens. The DHS press release for January 2, 2026 explicitly frames ICE’s
New Year actions as continued progress in removing individuals convicted of serious crimes, describing the effort as targeting pedophiles, murderers, and fraudsters (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day 2026, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and various fraud-related offenses (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02). The release lists multiple named individuals and their countries of origin, with explicit crime convictions and jurisdictions (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Evidence of completion vs. ongoing status: The January 2, 2026 release confirms initial arrests aligned with the stated aim to target the “worst of the worst,” but the completion condition as a one-time event is not specified; the current information indicates ongoing enforcement activity rather than a concluded single milestone (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02).
Dates and milestones: The key milestone documented is the release date of January 2, 2026, detailing arrests carried out on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2026, including named individuals and crimes (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02). No broader end-date or metric is defined in the source; the narrative implies continued enforcement into 2026.
Reliability of sources: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides verifiable, government-sourced details on arrests and criminal convictions (DHS/ICE press release, 2026-01-02). Given the topic’s political sensitivity, cross-checking with independent or legal records would further validate specifics, but the DHS release itself is a high-reliability source for the stated events.
Update · Jan 08, 2026, 12:12 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests,' continuing the prior year's emphasis on high-profile criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: On Jan 2, 2026, ICE publicly announced continued enforcement actions under the 'worst of the worst' framework, including arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and related crimes (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02). This follows the 2025 press material describing yearly emphasis on high-profile arrests (DHS.gov, 2025-12-30; 2025-11-20; 2025-10-06).
Status assessment: There is no published completion date or final milestone for the initiative. The announcements indicate ongoing arrests rather than a completed program, consistent with a continuing enforcement posture rather than a fixed end-point (DHS.gov, 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02).
Concrete milestones and dates: The latest referenced milestones include arrests announced on
New Year’s Eve/Day 2025 into early 2026, targeting violent offenders and child predators as part of the ICE 'worst of the worst' framing (DHS.gov, 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02). The reporting includes named crime categories (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, drug trafficking) but does not specify quantitative targets or a completion timeline.
Reliability of sources: The material comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/ICE press releases, which are official government communications. These sources are appropriate for reporting on ICE announcements, though they reflect policy messaging and emphasize enforcement results; independent corroboration from multiple outlets is limited in the provided material (DHS.gov, 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02).
Conclusion: The claim remains in_progress as of 2026-01-07, with ongoing arrests highlighted in early January 2026 and no defined completion date published by DHS/ICE.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 10:22 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE proclaimed a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE published a January 2, 2026 press release announcing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, listing individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. Additional reporting and agency updates indicate ongoing enforcement activity early in 2026. Completion status: No formal end date or comprehensive completion criterion was provided; the actions appear framed as ongoing enforcement rather than a completed initiative. Reliability note: The core information comes from official ICE/DHS press materials, which are primary sources for the stated arrests; corroborating coverage exists but should be weighed against the agency’s framing of enforcement efforts. The claim’s framing as a recurring policy objective remains subject to future DHS/ICE announcements and updates.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 06:25 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was a
New Year’s resolution to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports ICE ringing in 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The release lists multiple named individuals arrested on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day across several states.
Status of completion: There is no fixed completion date or metric provided in the release; the statement describes ongoing enforcement activity rather than a completed target. The article confirms that arrests occurred but does not indicate a final tally or end date for the initiative.
Dates and milestones: Release date January 2, 2026; arrests cited include cases from
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida, and other jurisdictions, all dated around
the New Year period. Specific individuals and offenses are enumerated in the DHS statement, signaling an initial milestone in the 2026 effort.
Reliability of sources: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which is a primary government document and appropriate for tracking enforcement announcements. Coverage from non-official outlets mirrors the DHS content but does not add independent verification beyond what the agency states; the material is therefore best interpreted as an initial official report rather than an independently corroborated dataset.
Conclusion: Based on the available official record, the claim is operating as an ongoing enforcement initiative in 2026 with initial arrests announced; there is no completed endpoint disclosed.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 03:55 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge described as a 2026
New Year’s resolution to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” targets criminal illegal aliens, including pedophiles, murderers, and fraudsters, with no specific metrics or deadlines in the original statement.
Evidence of progress: A DHS ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms arrests as part of the 2026 initiative, detailing multiple individuals convicted of offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other crimes. The release attributes these arrests to ICE’s ongoing enforcement efforts at the start of the year (
New Year’s Eve/Day arrests list included).
Progress assessment: The statement’s completion condition—“additional arrests” in 2026—has been met for the initial period, indicating continued enforcement activity. However, there is no published, end-of-year metric or total count to declare final completion; the initiative appears ongoing through 2026 with periodic arrests rather than a single milestone.
Source reliability and dates: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release (Jan 2, 2026), which provides concrete names and locations of arrests. Additional coverage from other outlets mirrors the DHS release but may vary in emphasis; official government communication remains the most direct confirmation of the claim’s progress.
Follow-up note: Given the ongoing nature of enforcement campaigns, a follow-up assessment on or after 2026-12-31 would determine whether the initiative produced a final, aggregate result or continued into subsequent periods.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 02:02 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” of convicted criminal illegal aliens, signaling an ongoing crackdown with no fixed completion metric.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with continued enforcement against high-risk individuals, including arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day of those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (Jan 2, 2026 page; Jan 5, 2026 follow-up). These releases name multiple individuals and detail their convictions, demonstrating active arrests under the stated mandate.
Completion status: The carried-out arrests indicate progress toward the stated policy, but no formal completion criterion was provided in the official communications. The ongoing nature of weekly or periodic press releases suggests the program remains in a state of ongoing enforcement rather than a single endpoint.
Dates and milestones: The DHS press releases dated January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 document specific arrests and convictions (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) across various jurisdictions, marking concrete early-2026 milestones. The earlier December 30, 2025 DHS page framed the policy as a 2026 initiative, establishing the baseline intention.
Reliability of sources: Information comes from U.S. Department of Homeland Security press releases and DHS.gov pages, which are official government sources. While the framing uses sensational language about “the worst of the worst,” the cited arrests list concrete cases and convictions, enhancing credibility relative to typical partisan sources.
Follow-up: To monitor whether the initiative meets any evolving metrics or milestones, a follow-up check on 2026-12-31 is recommended.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 12:04 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge was to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the 'worst of the worst' in 2026, with no specific metrics or deadlines.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that the agency began the year by arresting individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, highlighting several high-profile arrests. The official DHS press release is dated January 2, 2026 and lists multiple named individuals nationwide.
Status of completion: There is evidence of ongoing arrests at the start of 2026, consistent with the stated objective to pursue high-priority cases. However, there was no formal, publicly stated completion criterion or end date provided for the 2026 effort, so the task cannot be deemed completed or failed based on the available information as of early January 2026.
Dates and milestones: The DHS release is dated 2026-01-02 and documents arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including cases in
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida, and other jurisdictions. No final end-date or total count is provided; the milestone is the annual initiation of high-profile, priority arrests. The source is an official government press release from DHS/ICE.
Reliability note: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are authoritative for policy statements and arrest announcements. Coverage from secondary outlets aligns with the DHS release but should be cross-checked against the original agency text for exact details. Given the government source, the information is reliable for understanding stated aims and initial actions, though future outcomes will depend on ongoing enforcement operations.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 10:05 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to carry out more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, as described in a December 30, 2025 DHS press release. The statement framed the 2025 arrests and promised additional similar actions in 2026.
Evidence of progress: The DHS release documents end-of-2025 arrests and names several individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” with dates tied to December 2025. It does not, however, provide a measurable progress metric, scope, or a defined 2026 execution plan beyond the stated January 2026 resolution.
Current status: There is no publicly available, independently verified metric, deadline, or milestone for completing the 2026 promise. As of 2026-01-06, the public record shows the initial late-2025 arrests and a stated future aim, but no concrete program parameters or progress reports.
Reliability and context: The primary source is an official DHS press release, which is authoritative for statements of policy intent but is highly promotional in tone. Independent corroboration is limited, and no neutral follow-up metrics have been published publicly to date.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 08:03 AMin_progress
What the claim stated: DHS/ICE framed 2026 as a
New Year’s push to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 confirms ICE initiated the year with multiple arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” listing offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release attributes these arrests to ongoing ICE enforcement efforts during New Year’s events across jurisdictions.
Completion status: There is no published completion marker or end-date; the press release frames the arrests as part of an ongoing effort rather than a finished milestone. The January 2, 2026 release reads as a kickoff for 2026 rather than a final tally.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone is the January 2, 2026 press release announcing the first arrests of the year, with detailed case entries (names, origins, and offenses) accompanying the report. This establishes a concrete, verifiable starting point for 2026 activity.
Source reliability and caveats: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE federal government release, which is authoritative for enforcement actions. As with any enforcement framing, readers should consider potential promotional language and verify with case-by-case records; the named individuals’ convictions are corroborated within the release, but broader “progress” claims rely on ongoing future reporting.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 04:25 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more 'worst of the worst' arrests of criminal illegal aliens. The December 30, 2025 DHS release framed this as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE releases from January 2 and January 6, 2026 describe ongoing arrests and an expanded manpower surge (over 12,000 officers) to target high-risk offenders, including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child and other serious crimes.
Completion status: There is no published end date or completion metric; the material indicates ongoing operations rather than a finalized tally, so the status remains in_progress.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 announcement; January 2, 2026 kickoff with increased staffing; January 6, 2026 report of additional high-conviction arrests. These establish a trajectory without a defined completion point. Reliability stems from official DHS releases, which provide specific arrest cases and officer numbers, though framing emphasizes the policy stance and may reflect promotional language.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 02:09 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge described as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 was to undertake “more worst of the worst arrests,” framed as an ongoing enforcement aim rather than a completed action.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE released a January 2, 2026 update detailing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, illustrating a continued enforcement push at the start of 2026.
Completion status: No defined completion date or final metric is specified; the announcements describe ongoing enforcement activity rather than a closed program, suggesting the initiative is in early stages of a broader strategy.
Key dates/milestones: The January 2, 2026 DHS release constitutes a concrete milestone. It does not provide a projected end date, so subsequent updates would be needed to assess final outcomes.
Sources reliability: The primary, official DHS/ICE releases are the most reliable for policy statements and arrest data; corroboration from secondary outlets exists but should be weighed against the official disclosures for interpretation and bias.
Follow-up note: Future DHS/ICE updates would be needed to determine whether the initiative achieves any measured end state or completes the stated objective.
Update · Jan 07, 2026, 12:59 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.”
Evidence of progress: ICE announced the start of 2026 with continued arrests of high-risk individuals, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud on January 2, 2026. The December 30, 2025 DHS release framed 2026 as the year for more such arrests, signaling a policy stance rather than a fixed milestone.
Status of completion: There is no defined completion date or metric; arrests have begun, but the overall objective remains ongoing and unquantified as of early January 2026. No final closure or end-date is provided in the official statements.
Dates and milestones: December 30, 2025 (initial framing of the goal); January 2, 2026 (explicit arrests announced as part of the rollout). These are official DHS/ICE statements and press releases.
Reliability note: Sources are U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE press releases, which are official but partisan in policy framing; expectations should be balanced against potential messaging incentives. The reporting is corroborated by multiple DHS pages indicating the same stance and subsequent arrests.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 11:16 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct more arrests targeting the so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. (DHS 2026-01-02)
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with continued enforcement against high-priority offenders, listing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. A follow-up DHS release on January 5 highlights additional weekend arrests and notes a broader expansion with more than 12,000 officers and agents to support enforcement. (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05)
Status of completion: There is no completion date or milestone indicating finalization; the announcements describe ongoing actions at the start of 2026, with continued enforcement rather than a concluded end-state. The dissemination of multiple releases within the first days of 2026 suggests an ongoing campaign rather than a completed program. (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05)
Milestones and dates: January 2, 2026: arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud are announced. January 5, 2026: reported weekend arrests across multiple jurisdictions, with claims of expanded manpower (over 12,000 officers/agents). These events establish concrete, named arrests and a stated expansion of personnel. (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05)
Reliability of sources: The information comes from U.S. Department of Homeland Security official press releases, which are primary sources for policy and enforcement announcements. While they provide explicit arrest cases and staffing claims, readers should note the inherent perspective of law-enforcement messaging and corroborate with independent reporting for context. (DHS 2026-01-02; DHS 2026-01-05)
Follow-up note: A future evaluation should compare ongoing ICE activity through 2026 against any formal completion criteria or end-state definitions to determine whether the program achieves a sustained, measurable outcome.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 08:13 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly stated in late 2025 that their
New Year’s resolution for 2026 would be “more worst of the worst arrests,” focusing on arrests of highly dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: The official DHS press release dated December 30, 2025 documents ICE’s arrests of several
high‑risk individuals at year’s end and frames the 2026 initiative as ongoing policy. The release cites specific individuals with prior violent or serious criminal histories as examples of the target group.
Progress toward completion status: As of January 6, 2026, there is no publicly reported milestone indicating the initiative has concluded or that a fixed completion date was set. The policy appears to be ongoing or open-ended for 2026, with continued enforcement activity contingent on ICE operations and priorities.
Dates and milestones: The primary milestone is the December 30, 2025 release announcing the 2026 approach. The article notes arrests occurring “yesterday” in the lead‑up to 2026, but provides no further concrete, ongoing cadence or end date for the 2026 effort.
Reliability of sources: The main source is a DHS/ICE press release (official government communications), which is a reliable primary document for policy statements. Secondary reprints (public notices and outlets citing the DHS release) corroborate the claim, but do not add independent enforcement data beyond the initial arrests cited in the December 2025 statement.
Overall assessment: The claim has a clear policy intent for 2026 and has seen at least an initial round of arrests reported in late 2025. No evidence to date shows a completed program or a defined endpoint; the status as of 2026-01-06 remains: in_progress.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 06:20 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the “worst of the worst.”
Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces the ring-in to 2026 with arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release quotes Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and lists multiple specific arrests occurring on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day in various states.
Status of completion: The press release confirms ongoing enforcement activity at the start of 2026 and provides concrete examples of arrests, indicating progress toward the stated aim. However, no final or year-end tally is provided in this initial report, and the year is still underway, so the claim remains in_progress rather than completed.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone is the January 2, 2026 release confirming
New Year’s Eve/Day arrests of named individuals (e.g., Luis Miguel Gonzalez-Castillo,
Brallan Josue Garcia-Castro, Angel Marin-Cruz, etc.) and framing them as part of the new year’s push. The article notes
the New Year context and attributes the arrests to ICE operations during the holiday period.
Reliability and sources: The information comes directly from official DHS/ICE press materials, which are primary sources for enforcement actions. While these sources accurately report arrests and agency framing, they represent a law-enforcement perspective and may emphasize certain categories or language (e.g., “worst of the worst”). Independent corroboration from alternative outlets is limited in the DHS page itself, but multiple results link back to the same ICE press release.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 04:00 PMin_progress
The claim asserts that DHS/ICE intends to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026.
The official indicator of progress is a DHS press release announcing arrests at the start of 2026, framed as ongoing enforcement against the 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens.
The release emphasizes
New Year’s Eve/Day arrests and highlights convictions such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 02:01 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article quotes DHS/ICE promising to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, effectively signaling an ongoing campaign to arrest individuals labeled as the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE published explicit progress in early January 2026. The January 2, 2026 release documents arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, described as operations to remove the “worst of the worst” from communities. The January 5, 2026 release expands on the same theme, listing numerous arrests over the weekend and citing a manpower expansion (claims of new officers/agents).
Completion status: There is no formal completion of a finite milestone; the announcements frame 2026 as a continuing effort with ongoing arrests rather than a wrapped-up program. The releases emphasize multiple arrests over a short window and reference ongoing efforts rather than a finish date. Therefore, the status is best characterized as in_progress rather than completed or failed.
Dates and milestones: Key dates are 2026-01-02 (ICE Rings in 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud) and 2026-01-05 (
New Year, Same Mission detailing additional weekend arrests and claimed manpower increases). Specific individuals and jurisdictions are named in the releases, constituting concrete examples of progress during the period.
Source reliability note: The information derives from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary government sources. While these sources provide concrete arrest figures and stated policy intents, they reflect the agency’s operational framing and incentives. Independent corroboration from courts or law enforcement dashboards would strengthen verification; absence of such corroboration means cautious interpretation is warranted.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 12:17 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: DHS press releases dated January 2, 2026 and January 5, 2026 report ICE initiating 2026 with ongoing arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst,' including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, homicide, rape, and related offenses. The January 2 release highlights new-year arrests and a continued removal effort, while the January 5 release details additional weekend arrests across multiple jurisdictions.
Status of completion: As of January 6, 2026, there is no final completion report for 2026; the effort is described as an ongoing enforcement push rather than a concluded program. The evidence indicates sustained activity early in 2026, but not a defined end date or full year completion.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include
the January 2, 2026 start-of-year announcement and
the January 5, 2026 cumulative arrest reports (e.g., individuals convicted of homicide, aggravated sexual assault of a child, rape, fraud). These establish concrete early-2026 enforcement milestones, with continued activity expected throughout the year.
Source reliability note: The primary sources are official U.S. Department of Homeland Security/DHS press releases (ICE/ DHS), which are government communications. While phrasing uses strong terms like 'worst of the worst,' the information about arrests and personnel mentions is consistent across multiple DHS releases, suggesting reliable documentation of those arrests. Cross-checks with independent outlets are limited but the DHS material is consistent and time-stamped.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 10:04 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more “worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the aggressive enforcement seen at year end 2025. The verbatim pledge cited by the article is
the New Year’s resolution to pursue additional arrests targeting individuals described as the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The completion condition was not a fixed metric or deadline, but the expectation that ICE would carry out further arrests during 2026.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports that ICE “begins the new year with continued progress in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from
American communities,” including arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The release provides specific named cases and jurisdictions (e.g.,
Harris County, TX;
Morris County, NJ;
Philadelphia County, PA;
Los Angeles, CA) and quotes an ICE official on safer communities for 2026.
Progress status: The January 2026 DHS release confirms at least a first wave of arrests aligning with the stated goal, indicating ongoing enforcement rather than a completed program. As of January 5, 2026, there is public evidence of multiple arrests announced at the start of the year, but no comprehensive completion or end date is provided, so the effort remains in progress.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone is the January 2, 2026 press release announcing arrests of individuals convicted of egregious crimes (child sexual assault, murder, fraud) and naming several arrestees and locations. The press release frames these as the year’s opening actions in what it characterizes as removing “the worst of the worst” from communities. The project appears to be ongoing beyond this initial release, with no stated end date.
Source reliability note: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release, which provides direct statements from ICE and concrete arrest details. While the agency-affiliated outlet may present enforcement in a favorable light, the information about arrests, charges, and jurisdictions is verifiable and accompanies named individuals. Cross-checks with independent outlets are available but should be weighed against potential biases; nonetheless, the DHS page constitutes the strongest primary source for this claim.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 07:40 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s pledge for 2026 to conduct more ‘worst of the worst’ arrests of criminal illegal aliens. The January 2026 DHS releases expand on this by announcing continued arrests targeting individuals convicted of serious crimes, framing it as a sustained effort into 2026 (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Evidence of progress exists in the official DHS/ICE announcements for 2026, which enumerate specific arrests and note increases in manpower. The January 2, 2026 release highlights the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of homicide and other severe offenses. The January 5, 2026 release further lists multiple individuals convicted of homicide, gang activity, rape, and related crimes as part of ongoing enforcement actions (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Completion status: There is no final completion; the programs and arrests appear to be ongoing. The releases describe a continuing campaign with new arrests over
New Year’s weekend and ongoing enforcement capacity, including claimed increases in manpower (DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Reliability of sources: All information comes from official
U.S. federal government sources (DHS/ICE). While these releases are primary, they reflect government messaging and framing; independent corroboration from non-government outlets may vary in tone and interpretation. The material provides concrete dates and named individuals, which enhances verifiability (DHS, 2025-12-30; DHS, 2026-01-02; DHS, 2026-01-05).
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 04:18 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” expanding removals of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens in the new year.
Evidence of progress: On 2026-01-02, ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes, highlighting multiple arrests over
New Year’s Eve and Day. The DHS press release lists named individuals and cites criminal convictions across several states, signaling active enforcement at the outset of the year.
Assessment of completion status: The press release confirms ongoing arrests in early January 2026 but does not indicate a final or comprehensive completion metric. Therefore, the claim remains in_progress, with initial examples of arrests meeting the “worst of the worst” criterion. No end date or milestone is stated, consistent with a continuing program through 2026.
Sources and reliability: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026, an official government communication detailing specific arrests and statements from DHS leadership. This official primary source provides verifiable, contemporaneous evidence of the stated policy direction and early actions; no contradictory information from major, high-quality outlets challenges the DHS account at this time.
Follow-up note: The completion date is not defined; monitoring through 2026 is required to determine whether additional, sustained arrests meet any evolving benchmarks.
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 02:10 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article quotes DHS/ICE promising in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 explicitly announces ICE began 2026 with arrests of individuals described as 'the worst of the worst,' listing multiple cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses from various states.
Completion status: The statement describes an ongoing policy/priority, not a single milestone with a fixed deadline. The January 2026 arrests demonstrate initial progress, but there is no completed end-state or closure date provided, so the output remains ongoing progress.
Dates and milestones: The source date is January 2, 2026, reporting arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day (December 31, 2025–January 1, 2026) and naming individual arrestees and charges. No final completion date is given for the program.
Reliability note: The primary source is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official press release, which provides authoritative details on arrests and statements from ICE leadership; it is high-reliability for this topic. Acknowledgment of the source’s official role is essential, and no counterbalancing independent sources are necessary to establish the basic facts of the announced arrests.
Source: DHS.gov, ICE Rings in 2026 With More Arrests of Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Pedophiles, Murderers, and Fraudsters (Release date: 2026-01-02).
Update · Jan 06, 2026, 12:20 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” targeting high-risk criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: A DHS ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses as part of
New Year’s enforcement actions. Status of completion: No final year-end tally or completion milestone is reported; the program appears to be in early execution with ongoing enforcement actions. Concrete milestones and dates:
The January 2, 2026 release provides initial concrete arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day, signaling start of the initiative. Reliability of sources: The primary information comes from official DHS/ICE communications, which are authoritative for this policy, though independent verification of ongoing counts would strengthen confidence.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 10:12 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 that 2026 would feature 'more worst of the worst arrests' of particularly dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: Official DHS/ICE communications published January 2, 2026 report arrests of individuals described as among the 'worst of the worst,' including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with specific case details released for
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. Reliability notes: The sources are official government press releases from DHS/ICE, which provide primary enforcement information but may frame outcomes in a favorable enforcement context.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 07:58 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests of criminal illegal aliens. The aim is ongoing enforcement throughout 2026 without a fixed completion deadline. The current status shows initial progress in early 2026, with ICE announcing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. These arrests are presented as part of a continued effort to remove
high‑risk offenders from communities.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 reports multiple arrests categorized as “worst of the worst,” including individuals from
Mexico,
Honduras,
Jamaica,
Dominican Republic, and other countries, with crimes ranging from aggravated sexual assault of a child to murder and fraud. The material from ICE highlights concrete names, nationalities, and offenses, demonstrating active enforcement activity at the start of 2026. Additional coverage from DHS and related outlets corroborates that arrests occurred around
the New Year period.
Completion status: As of 2026-01-05, arrests have occurred, indicating progress toward the stated goal. There is no announced end date or final tally, so the effort remains ongoing rather than completed. The completion criterion—“additional arrests of the worst of the worst during 2026”—is being pursued, but a full year’s slate of arrests would be needed to label the initiative complete.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone available is
the January 2, 2026 press release detailing the initial wave of arrests over
New Year’s Eve/Day. A continued cadence of announced arrests would constitute further milestones, but none beyond early January are specified in the available materials. The project appears to be an ongoing enforcement push with periodic public updates.
Reliability note: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are primary for policy direction and arrest announcements. While the “worst of the worst” framing reflects ICE’s public messaging, DHS/ICE statements provide verifiable details on arrests (names, nationalities, offenses) though assessments of broader policy impact should consider independent, non-governmental analyses for broader context.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 06:26 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. The comment was framed as a
New Year’s resolution to increase enforcement against top-priority offenders in 2026.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026, announces ICE began the year with continued progress removing “the worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The release lists multiple individuals arrested on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day across several states, indicating active enforcement early in 2026.
Completion status: There is no fixed completion date or metric provided in the announcements. The progress described in early 2026 demonstrates movement toward the stated goal, but the completion of annual objectives would require ongoing arrests throughout 2026. Based on the information available, the status is ongoing progress rather than complete.
Dates and milestones: Key milestones include the December 30, 2025 article invoking
the New Year’s resolution and
the January 2, 2026 DHS press release detailing specific arrests of individuals with prior criminal convictions. The January 2026 rollout shows initial enforcement momentum at the start of the year.
Source reliability: The information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages, which are primary sources for government actions. While DHS communications may reflect enforcement emphasis, the documents provide concrete arrest records and locations, lending credibility to the reported progress.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 03:59 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more 'worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens. The target was framed as a continuing enforcement priority without a specific metric or deadline.
Progress evidence: On January 2, 2026, DHS/ICE publicly announced arrests tied to the 'worst of the worst' category, listing individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, with multiple cases occurring on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The press release frames these arrests as ongoing progress at the start of 2026 and highlights continued removal efforts during the holiday period.
Current status: The episode marks the initial wave of arrests in 2026 and confirms that the initiative was launched. There is no published completion date or final metric in the official materials, so the status remains active/ongoing rather than completed or canceled. Additional arrests or updates beyond the initial release would be needed to assess full execution of the stated aim.
Source reliability note: The primary source is a December 2025/January 2026 DHS press release from ICE, which is an official government communication. While it provides concrete arrest details for the opening days of 2026, it reflects the agency’s framing of the program and may emphasize successes; corroboration from independent, high-quality outlets can help assess broader impact and neutrality.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 02:03 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: A January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE press release announces the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other serious crimes, indicating continued enforcement focus (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02). Additional context: The release lists multiple specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day across several states, illustrating ongoing activity. Completion status: There is no fixed completion date or metric; the narrative characterizes
early-2026 activity as the continuation of an ongoing enforcement effort. Concrete milestones: Named individual cases and
the January 2, 2026 release serve as initial milestones for 2026. Reliability note: Official DHS/ICE communications are authoritative for policy stance and arrest announcements but reflect agency framing; independent data could help verify broader impact and trend lines.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 12:09 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article stated DHS/ICE aimed for
New Year 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. It framed the goal as a 2026 initiative without a publicly stated completion metric or deadline beyond ongoing enforcement activity. The promise is presented as a policy stance and enforcement objective for the year.
Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 publicly announced arrests at the start of 2026, citing individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The release named multiple individuals across several states and credited ICE officers for the arrests during
the New Year period. This demonstrates contemporaneous action consistent with the stated aim to increase such arrests at the outset of 2026.
Assessment of completion status: The completion condition—conducting additional arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' during 2026—remains in progress. The January 2026 release shows initial arrests, but there is no final deadline or end-state reported; enforcement activity is ongoing by design. Therefore, the claim cannot be considered completed as of 2026-01-05 and is best characterized as in_progress.
Dates and milestones: The primary milestone evidenced is
the January 2, 2026 press release announcing a batch of arrests tied to
New Year enforcement. The release also quotes an ICE official praising the agency’s ongoing operations. There is no publicly stated end date or annual target number in the release.
Source reliability: The information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release, a primary government source, which is appropriate for verifying policy statements and enforcement actions. Cross-checks with other government or reputable outlets corroborate the arrests and the general framing, though some outlets outside mainstream outlets have echoed the phrasing. Overall, source reliability is high for the factual claims about arrests and official statements, with standard caveats about potential political framing in law-enforcement rhetoric.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 10:18 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so‑called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. The public statement appeared on DHS/ICE materials at year-end 2025, and a follow-up ICE release on January 2, 2026 reiterated the ongoing effort (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02).
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced
New Year’s Eve/Day arrests of individuals described as among the worst offenders, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes (DHS 2026-01-02). Additional coverage of the 2025 close-out period confirms prior arrests of murderers, pedophiles, and other violent offenders (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2025-12-30 follow-up communications).
Current status: The January 2026 releases demonstrate ongoing arrests consistent with the stated objective; there is no published end date or formal completion condition in DHS communications, indicating continued activity rather than a completed milestone (DHS 2026-01-02). The announcements list multiple cases across states, suggesting a nationwide ongoing effort (DHS 2026-01-02).
Dates and milestones: The completion condition was not defined with a deadline;
the New Year’s Eve/Day period marks the initial milestone, with January 2, 2026 updates outlining specific arrests (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02). The named arrests establish concrete events and jurisdictions (DHS 2026-01-02).
Source reliability note: The material comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are primary government communications about enforcement actions. While the framing is agency-side, the arrest records and jurisdictions are verifiable within the cited DHS pages (DHS 2025-12-30; DHS 2026-01-02).
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 07:51 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The article asserts DHS/ICE aimed to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026, signaling an ongoing emphasis on removing high-priority criminal illegal aliens, including child sexual abuse offenders and murderers.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst,” including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The official release dated January 2, 2026 lists specific individuals and jurisdictions (
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
New York,
California,
Florida, etc.).
Progress status: As of January 4, 2026, the DHS/ICE release confirms ongoing enforcement actions at the start of the year, with multiple arrests reported on
New Year’s Eve/Day. There is no published completion date or final metric, consistent with an ongoing enforcement posture rather than a discrete, completed program milestone.
Dates and milestones: The principal milestone is the January 2, 2026 press release detailing the first round of arrests, with names and locations provided. The article indicates continued enforcement activity during the holiday period and into 2026, but does not specify a cadence, totals, or end date.
Source reliability: The information comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s official DHS.gov release, which is a primary government source for ICE actions. While DHS communications may emphasize enforcement results, they are the authoritative record for announced arrests in this program. Cross-referencing with independent outlets is possible but not strictly necessary given the official source.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 03:58 AMin_progress
The claim states that DHS/ICE aims to carry out 'more worst of the worst arrests' in 2026. This frames the year as a continuing enforcement push targeting the most serious criminal illegal aliens. The original wording in the article reflects a policy stance rather than a quantified objective with metrics.
Evidence of progress appears in an official DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026, titled ICE Rings in 2026 With More Arrests of Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Pedophiles, Murderers, and Fraudsters. The release reports arrests occurring on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, naming multiple individuals convicted of serious crimes across several states. This demonstrates active enforcement activity consistent with the stated aim.
There is no completion date or metric indicating a final completion; the press release frames the arrests as ongoing progress into 2026 rather than a completed program. Given the absence of a defined endpoint, the status remains open-ended and subject to further enforcement actions throughout the year. The 2026 report thus indicates movement toward the stated goal but not a formal conclusion.
Concrete milestones cited include
the January 2, 2026 DHS press release and the specific arrest cases it describes on
New Year’s Eve/Day, including individuals from
Mexico,
Honduras,
Jamaica,
Dominican Republic,
Philippines, and
Cuba. The release documents particular crimes and jurisdictions, establishing proximal milestones for ongoing enforcement activity during 2026. These milestones rely on case-by-case arrests rather than a single, auditable completion condition.
Reliability: Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security/DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official press release. The information is authoritative for policy statements and openly reported arrests, but it represents a government framing of enforcement priorities and individual cases rather than independent verification. Readers should consider government-issued data as the primary source for the stated aims, while cross-referencing with corroborating court records for arrest outcomes where available.
Overall assessment: the claim is not completed and remains in_progress as of early 2026, with ongoing arrests and announced enforcement actions continuing the stated objective into the year.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 01:49 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling ongoing priority to arrest and remove individuals labeled as the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE issued a
New Year press release on January 2, 2026 detailing multiple arrests of individuals described as part of the “worst of the worst,” including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The releases enumerate specific individuals and jurisdictions (e.g.,
Harris County TX,
Morris County NJ,
Forsyth County NC, etc.), indicating concrete enforcement actions at the start of 2026. Additional coverage and related ICE pages corroborate continued emphasis on high-profile cases.
Completion status: As of 2026-01-04, there is evidence of ongoing arrests initiated near the start of 2026, but no final completion or endpoint to the program is stated. The original completion condition—“ICE conducts additional arrests of individuals characterized as the ‘worst of the worst’ during 2026” with no fixed metric or deadline—remains a continuing objective rather than a completed task. The presence of early-year arrests supports progress rather than closure.
Dates and milestones: The pivotal milestones to watch are continued monthly or quarterly announcements of additional arrests and removals under the “Worst of the Worst” framing. The Jan 2, 2026 DHS press release provides a concrete milestone (the New Year arrests) and names several convicted individuals. no definitive end date or quantified target is publicly specified in the releases examined.
Reliability note: Primary sources are official DHS/ICE press releases and the agency’s “
Worst of the Worst” pages, which are authoritative for enforcement actions. While the framing emphasizes high-profile crimes, the materials are policy-oriented and may reflect administrative messaging. Cross-checks with independent outlets show coverage of the same arrests, but readers should treat the announcements as confirmation of enforcement actions rather than independent verification of broader trends.
Update · Jan 05, 2026, 12:17 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that its
New Year’s resolution for 2026 would be to conduct more 'worst of the worst' arrests of criminal illegal aliens, without a specific completion metric or deadline.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly signaled the start of 2026 with a January 2, 2026 announcement of ongoing arrests of high-risk offenders, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. Public reporting indicates arrests occurred early in the year as part of the stated policy focus.
Completion status: No explicit end date or final completion condition is provided in official communications. As of early January 2026, the agency had initiated arrests aligned with the stated goal, but a definitive completion or failure verdict cannot be established from available statements.
Dates and milestones: 2025-12-30: DHS article framing 2026 focus on “more worst of the worst” arrests. 2026-01-02: DHS/ICE announces the start of the year with high-profile arrests, indicating commencement but not completion.
Source reliability: Primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which accurately reflect agency intent but may be framed for public messaging. Independent verification from court records or non-government reporting would strengthen assessment.
Note: The assessment remains contingent on forthcoming data about total arrests and end-of-year outcomes; current evidence supports ongoing implementation rather than final completion.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 09:52 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to carry out “more worst of the worst arrests,” continuing the prior year’s messaging that ICE targets the most serious criminal illegal aliens. Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly announced continued arrests at the start of 2026, including on January 2, 2026, with multiple arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes (press releases dated
01/02/2026). Completion status: No final completion date or metric is provided; the promise appears to be a continuing operational stance rather than a one-off target. As of 2026-01-04, there is evidence of ongoing arrests but no declared end point or closure.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 07:46 PMin_progress
Claim as stated: DHS/ICE framed 2026 as a year of “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling a continued emphasis on arresting highly dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The corresponding public statements point to ongoing enforcement actions early in 2026. On January 2, 2026, ICE announced the first wave of arrests for
New Year’s Eve/Day, highlighting individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (DHS/ICE press release). A separate January 2, 2026 DHS page reiterates the same stance and enumerates multiple arrests across several states (DHS press release). These statements establish progress in the form of identifiable arrests fitting the “worst of the worst” characterization, with concrete names and charges listed.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 06:17 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens, signaling an expanded enforcement push without a specific metric or deadline.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE publicly announced the initiation of 2026 with a wave of arrests targeting individuals described as the 'worst of the worst,' including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (Release Date: 2026-01-02). The agency listed multiple individuals and jurisdictions as examples of these arrests (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02).
Status of completion: There is no defined completion date or milestone in the official communications. The January 2, 2026 post documents initial arrests at the start of the year, but does not indicate a final end state or total goal completion, implying ongoing activity rather than a completed program.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone available is
the New Year’s operation announcing arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (2026-01-02) including multiple named individuals across several states (DHS.gov, 2026-01-02). For context, the prior year’s summary (2025-12-30) framed similar activity as part of an ongoing enforcement posture rather than a discrete finish (DHS.gov, 2025-12-30).
Source reliability note: The information comes from official
U.S. government sources (DHS/ICE pages on DHS.gov). These are primary communications from the departments involved; while the phrasing emphasizes enforcement narratives, the reports themselves provide verifiable arrest names, charges, and locations.
Follow-up note: Given the absence of a completion date, a follow-up on 2026-12-31 or after a defined enforcement period would help confirm whether the 'more arrests' objective evolved into a continuing cadence or reached a stated conclusion.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 03:49 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to pursue more 'worst of the worst' arrests of criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced arrests occurring on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day 2026, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses (DHS release dated 2026-01-02).
Assessment of completion status: As of early January 2026, arrests aligned with the stated objective have begun, but there is no defined end date or metric, so the effort is ongoing rather than completed or canceled.
Dates and milestones: The official release (
01/02/2026) lists multiple individuals arrested around 12/31/2025–01/01/2026, marking the start of the effort without an outlined timeline.
Reliability of sources: Information comes from an official DHS/ICE press release detailing concrete arrests and quotes from ICE leadership; cross-verification with DHS ICE communications supports the reported arrests, though the framing reflects enforcement messaging.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 01:55 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE pledged in 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests, targeting high-risk criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE announced on 2026-01-02 that the year began with additional arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst,” including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS press release). Completion status: The announcements show initial momentum but do not indicate a final completion date or a single milestone; the objective appears to be ongoing enforcement throughout 2026. Reliability note: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which provide verifiable details for the initial phase of the year.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 11:59 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly stated in 2025 that their
New Year’s resolution for 2026 would be to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: DHS/ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release announcing continued arrests targeting individuals described as the 'worst of the worst,' including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related violent or dangerous crimes.
Current status versus completion: There is no stated completion date; the releases indicate ongoing operations at the start of 2026 with multiple arrests on
New Year’s Eve/Day, suggesting the initiative is active rather than completed.
Dates and milestones: The DHS press release is dated January 2, 2026, enumerating named individuals and crimes, demonstrating an early-2026 milestone in the ongoing effort.
Source reliability note: Primary sources are DHS/ICE official communications (dhs.gov/ice.gov), which provide direct statements and arrest listings; they are the most authoritative for this claim.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 10:10 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst” among criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: A DHS/ICE press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE began 2026 with arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, listing cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, with names and origins provided. It characterizes these as part of the new year’s enforcement push (DHS press release, 2026-01-02).
Current status vs completion: The stated completion condition—ongoing 2026 arrests of the target group—remains ongoing, as no final tally or end-date is published. The January 2 release documents initial activity but does not establish a completion milestone.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone reported is the release date (January 2, 2026) detailing initial arrests around
New Year’s Eve/Day. No subsequent milestones or wrap-up date are provided in the source.
Reliability note: The source is a
U.S. government agency (DHS) press release, a primary source for enforcement announcements. It reflects official framing and incentives; independent corroboration would strengthen assessment of impact and scope.
Follow-up: Monitor ICE/ DHS communications for year-end 2026 summaries or audits to determine whether the initiative achieves any formal completion criteria.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 07:57 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals labeled as the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens, framing it as a
New Year’s resolution to intensify enforcement.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced the start of 2026 with arrests targeting individuals convicted of severe crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, domestic violence, firearm offenses, and fraud. The DHS page dated Jan 2, 2026 lists multiple specific arrests across several states as part of this effort.
Completion status: There is no published completion criterion or deadline. The policy appears ongoing, with demonstrable arrests occurring at the outset of 2026, but no end-date or metrics confirming final completion. The January 2026 releases show progress, not a finish.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone cited is
the January 2, 2026 DHS press release detailing arrests of individuals across the country, including examples such as Luis Miguel Gonzalez-Castillo and others, framed as part of 2026 enforcement focus. The December 30, 2025 release similarly framed the prior year’s results and introduced the 2026 pledge.
Source reliability note: Information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages, which are primary government sources. These statements reflect the agency’s official framing of its enforcement push; independent corroboration of outcomes beyond these releases is limited in this period and should be considered within the context of official communications.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 03:58 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE purportedly aimed to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, as part of a
New Year’s resolution reported by DHS.
Evidence of progress: Publicly available DHS communications from late December 2025 frame the 2026 objective but do not publish verifiable, post-2025 milestones or arrest counts for 2026. The primary documented material is a December 30, 2025 DHS/ICE press release page describing arrests in the preceding period and stating the 2026 objective; no independent, corroborating data showing executed arrests or a metrics-based rollout in 2026 is readily visible as of January 3, 2026.
Evidence of completion, in_progress, or failure: There is no demonstrated completion as of the current date. The press materials attribute a future goal but do not provide a completion date, metric, or incident tally for 2026, leaving the status as ongoing/in-progress until concrete 2026 data are released.
Dates and milestones: Key date identified is December 30, 2025 (publication of the claim and stated objective). The current date is January 3, 2026, with no published 2026 milestones or outcomes publicly available in the sources reviewed.
Source reliability note: The primary source is a DHS/ICE press page, which is official; however, the language surrounding the claim is unusually sensational for routine enforcement updates and is echoed/reflected in secondary postings that mirror the same phrasing. Cross-checks with multiple independent outlets or ICE data releases would be needed to confirm ongoing implementation and to assess framing accuracy.
Update · Jan 04, 2026, 01:49 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE published a January 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing the ring-in of 2026 with additional arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related crimes. The release lists multiple specific arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, consistent with continuing enforcement against high-priority targets. Additional context from DHS end-of-2025 coverage underscores a framing of targeting the most dangerous offenders (e.g., “worst of the worst”) as a continuing policy emphasis. Reliability: The primary source is an official DHS/ICE press release (DHS.gov), which is a direct government communication; corroborating coverage from DHS news aggregators and related DHS pages supports the timeline, though phrasing reflects agency framing rather than independent verification of outcomes.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 11:57 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature 'more worst of the worst arrests' of criminal illegal aliens, signaling an expanded enforcement push.
Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE publicly announced ongoing enforcement actions for the new year. On January 2, 2026, ICE published a press release detailing arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud) as part of the 'worst of the worst' initiative for 2026.
Progress toward completion: The January 2, 2026 release indicates active arrests early in 2026, with named individuals and jurisdictions. There is no stated end date or fixed milestone, so no final completion yet; the program appears to be ongoing.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone is the January 2, 2026 DHS/ICE release announcing initial arrests across multiple states (TX, NJ, PA, etc.). This marks the first public tranche of 2026 actions.
Source reliability: Information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases on .gov sites, which are primary-source announcements for enforcement actions and are corroborated by subsequent DHS updates.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 10:04 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE claim is a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to execute “more worst of the worst arrests” of high-risk criminal illegal aliens, extending beyond 2025.
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 explicitly states ICE began 2026 with arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes, listing multiple cases and locations (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud). Additional background materials reference ICE’s ongoing “
Worst of the Worst” arrests program and a public-facing tally of recent high-profile arrests (e.g., ICE WoW materials from mid-2025). These items indicate active enforcement and public communication of targeted arrests at the start of 2026.
Completion status: No formal completion date or metric was provided. Given the absence of a defined endpoint and the ongoing nature of enforcement campaigns, the status is best described as in_progress rather than complete or failed. The January 2026 disclosure confirms ongoing activity but does not indicate a wrap-up date.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone cited is
the New Year’s Eve/Day arrests announced on January 2, 2026, including a named roster of individuals and jurisdictions (TX, NJ, PA,
CA, FL, etc.). The press release frames these as the start of 2026 enforcement, with frequent subsequent updates historically linked to the ICE “Worst of the Worst” initiative. A follow-up milestone would be a year-end recap showing total arrests and removals for 2026.
Source reliability note: Information comes from official
U.S. government sources (DHS/ICE press release on DHS.gov), which are primary for policy statements and enforcement disclosures. While the framing reflects agency incentives, the factual details (names, charges, locations) are verifiable within the release. Supplemental context from ICE’s historical “Worst of the Worst” materials is corroborative but should be interpreted in light of official communication norms and potential public-facing emphasis.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 07:52 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of individuals deemed the 'worst of the worst' among criminal illegal aliens. The source article referenced a 2025-12-30 DHS statement promising heightened enforcement in 2026.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated 2026-01-02 confirms ICE began 2026 with arrests described as targeting the 'worst of the worst' and lists multiple individuals (including offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud) arrested on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day. The release attributes these actions to ICE enforcement work across several jurisdictions.
Completion status: There is initial progress reported (the first wave of arrests in early January 2026), but no closure or end-state milestone is stated. The 2026 efforts appear to be ongoing, with ongoing enforcement activity implied by the press release and subsequent reporting. No end date or final tally is provided in the DHS release.
Key dates and milestones: 2026-01-02: DHS/ICE announces the start of 2026 enforcement with arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes (specific cases listed in the release). The release frames these actions as a continuation of ICE’s ongoing campaign against high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Source reliability note: The primary source is a DHS/ICE official press release, which is authoritative for policy statements and arrest announcements. Coverage in secondary outlets corroborates the basic facts but varies in framing; DHS remains the most direct source for the stated objective and initial actions.
Summary: The claim mirrors an initial enforcement effort in early January 2026, with no announced end date or final completion metric; ongoing reporting will be needed to determine whether the broader 2026 objective progresses or expands.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 06:11 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The January 2, 2026 DHS release frames 2026 as a year of intensified enforcement against high-risk offenders. Evidence of progress: The DHS press release documents arrests on
New Year's Eve and
New Year's Day, including individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud across multiple states. Specific cases and locations are cited (e.g.,
Harris County,
Morris County,
Forsyth County,
Philadelphia County). Progress status: The announcements show ongoing enforcement activity consistent with the stated goal, but there is no fixed completion deadline or milestone; arrests are reported as ongoing actions. Milestones and dates: The key milestone is the public confirmation of arrests on January 2, 2026, detailing several cases and charges. Reliability of sources: The primary source is an official DHS press release, which is reliable for actions taken but may reflect policy framing; corroboration from independent outlets varies and should be consulted for broader context.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 03:49 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE publicly framed 2026 as a year with “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an ongoing focus on high-risk criminal illegal aliens.
Progress evidence: A January 2, 2026 DHS ICE release explicitly announces the 2026 kickoff with multiple arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes (e.g., aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud), indicating a concrete start to the stated objective.
Current status: As of January 3, 2026, ICE reports ongoing enforcement activity tied to the 2026 initiative, including
New Year’s Eve/Day arrests of individuals described as among the “worst of the worst.” There is no completed end-state announced, and the initiative appears to be in the early implementation phase.
Milestones and dates: Release date the initiative began (January 2, 2026) and the specific arrests listed for New Year’s Eve/Day provide initial milestones. The press release names multiple cases and locations, establishing an immediate, measurable start rather than a projected finish.
Source reliability: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are direct, timestamped, and policy-aligned with the agency’s public-facing statements. To date, other outlets referencing the same claim largely echo the DHS release; neutral, government-origin reporting minimizes speculative interpretation. No independent verification of every arrest is provided beyond the agency’s own disclosures.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 01:53 PMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE pledge for 2026 was to conduct more arrests of the so-called "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens. The article language framed it as a
New Year’s resolution to expand high-profile enforcement actions against dangerous offenders.
Evidence of progress: A DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 announces ICE began the year with arrests described as targeting the worst of the worst, listing individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses. The release specifies arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day across multiple jurisdictions (e.g.,
Texas,
New Jersey,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
California,
Florida).
Current status and interpretation: The release demonstrates concrete arrests, indicating ongoing enforcement activity aligned with the 2026 pledge. There is no stated end date or completion condition in the release; thus, progress is ongoing rather than complete. The pattern mirrors prior years’ “Worst of the Worst” disclosures, suggesting a continuing program rather than a one-off event.
Key dates and milestones: Release date is 2026-01-02. Arrests cited include individuals in
Harris County, TX;
Morris County, NJ;
Forsyth County,
NC;
Philadelphia County, PA; Paterson, NJ;
Los Angeles, CA;
Tampa, FL;
Deltona, FL; Prince William,
VA;
Orlando, FL. These specific cases establish an initial, high-profile milestone for 2026 enforcement efforts.
Source reliability: The primary sources are official DHS press materials (DHS.gov) and ICE program materials (Worst of the Worst) which provide direct statements and lists of arrests. Given the official government origin, these sources are reliable for policy declarations and described actions, though as with any enforcement reporting, interpretations should consider potential political framing.
Overall assessment: The claim is not explicitly contradicted; evidence indicates ICE initiated 2026 with targeted arrests fitting the described objective. The status remains in_progress, pending further enforcement actions and disclosures throughout 2026.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 01:30 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in 2025 to pursue "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued a January 2, 2026 press release detailing arrests of individuals convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and other offenses, with multiple arrests across several states on
New Year’s Eve and Day. Completion status: The announcements show start-of-year enforcement activity; no firm end date for the initiative is provided, so status remains in_progress. Reliable sources: Official DHS/ICE press releases on dhs.gov provide concrete arrest details; these are primary governmental communications; corroborating coverage from other outlets exists but should be weighed against primary releases.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 11:59 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE publicly pledged in late 2025 that 2026 would feature more arrests of the so-called 'worst of the worst' criminal aliens. This was framed as a
New Year’s resolve to prioritize high-severity cases, with no specific numeric targets or deadlines provided at the time.
Evidence of progress: ICE publicly announced in early January 2026 that it began the year by arresting individuals described as the highest-risk offenders, including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The DHS press release dated January 2, 2026 details specific individuals and their convictions, indicating operational activity aligned with the pledge.
Completion status: As of the current date, there is evidence of initiation and ongoing enforcement activity in 2026, but no formal end-point or completion criteria were specified. The press release frames the arrests as ongoing efforts to remove dangerous offenders, not a concluded batch with a final tally.
Dates and milestones: Key milestone reported is
the January 2, 2026 DHS press release announcing multiple high-severity arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, fraud, and related offenses, with names and jurisdictions listed. No later milestones or totals are provided in the available summary.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 10:15 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in 2025 that 2026 would feature "more worst of the worst arrests" targeting
high‑risk criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS/ICE issued a January 2, 2026 update detailing arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst for
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud (DHS/ICE 2026-01-02). Current status relative to completion: There is no final completion date or explicit metric; the completion condition is ongoing enforcement activity, so the status remains in_progress. Dates and milestones: The original claim appeared in a December 30, 2025 DHS release, with a concrete arrest update published on January 2, 2026 (DHS/ICE 2025-12-30; 2026-01-02). Reliability of sources: Information comes from official DHS/ICE press releases, which are authoritative for policy statements and arrest summaries, though framing reflects enforcement priorities; cross‑checking with independent reporting can provide broader context.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 07:42 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced in 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” targeting the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The verbatim statement appears in a DHS news release dated December 30, 2025. The release frames the pledge as a continuation of enforcement priorities rather than a completed program.
Evidence of progress: Publicly available material confirms the intention for 2026 enforcement, but provides no concrete metrics, milestones, or lists of arrests to demonstrate ongoing progress beyond the initial announcement. No independent or DHS-verified updates documenting arrests labeled as the “worst of the worst” have been published as of early January 2026.
Completion status: There is no evidence in the public record of completed or ongoing actions meeting a defined completion condition for 2026. The claim remains an announced objective without verifiable execution data at this time.
Dates and milestones: The key date is the December 30, 2025 release; no further milestones or deadlines are publicly disclosed in available materials. The current date is 2026-01-02, with no updated enforcement tallies released to date.
Reliability note: The source is an official DHS/ICE communications channel, which provides primary information about stated policy and enforcement posture. The absence of verifiable metrics means readers should treat the claim as an intended objective awaiting future reporting.
Overall assessment: Based on available public records, the claim remains in_progress while awaiting measurable actions or updates to confirm execution.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 04:07 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge, announced in late 2025, was to conduct more arrests of individuals deemed the 'worst of the worst' in 2026, beginning with
New Year’s arrests. The completion condition was not a fixed metric or deadline, but the expectation that ICE would carry out additional arrests of
high‑risk, violent, or predatory criminal illegal aliens during 2026.
Progress evidence: DHS published a formal update on January 2, 2026, reporting that ICE began 2026 with further arrests of individuals described as the worst of the worst, including cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud. The named arrests span multiple states and nationalities, and the release frames these actions as ongoing enforcement activity for the new year.
Progress assessment:
The January 2, 2026 DHS release indicates continued execution of the pledge rather than a concluded action. There is no stated end date or full completion milestone in the DHS materials to date, so the status remains clearly in_progress rather than complete or failed. The earlier December 30, 2025 DHS piece established the baseline claim; the January 2026 update supplies initial evidence of ongoing efforts.
Dates and milestones: December 30, 2025 – initial claim and press release framing 2026 as a year of increased arrests of the 'worst of the worst.' January 2, 2026 – DHS press release announcing the first wave of 2026 arrests, with multiple individuals named and charges listed. These establish the concrete milestones for the early phase of the stated objective.
Source reliability: All information comes from official DHS/ICE communications (dhs.gov), which are primary sources for agency policy and enforcement actions. While DHS is the authoritative source on these claims, reporters and analysts should corroborate with additional official data releases or ICE case records for a fuller picture. The materials present a clearly stated governmental stance and sample arrest details, but do not provide a comprehensive tally or methodological criteria for selecting the 'worst of the worst.'
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 01:52 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more ‘worst of the worst’ arrests of criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: On January 2, 2026, the official DHS ICE news release reports the arrest of multiple individuals described as the ‘worst of the worst,’ including those convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, murder, and fraud, following arrests on
New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day (ICE Rings in 2026... Release Date:
01/02/2026).
Current status and milestones: The release documents specific individuals and locations (e.g.,
Harris County TX,
Morris County NJ,
Forsyth County NC,
Philadelphia PA, and others), indicating that arrests aligned with the stated objective occurred immediately at the start of 2026. There is no stated completion metric or deadline in the press release, reflecting that the initiative is ongoing rather than completed. No information is available in the release about the total number of arrests or a year-end target.
Source reliability and context: The primary source is a DHS/ICE official press release, which provides direct statements of policy and concrete arrest data for a defined period. While government sources are authoritative for official actions, the release reflects a single day’s activity and does not provide independent verification of broader trends. Cross-checks with additional outlets (e.g., public notices or subsequent DHS updates) could help corroborate ongoing enforcement pace.
Note on interpretation: Given the lack of a fixed completion date and metrics, the claim is best understood as an ongoing program rather than a completed action by 2026-01-02. This initial reporting confirms the start of the 2026 effort and several arrests but does not establish final outcomes for the year.
Update · Jan 03, 2026, 12:03 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more worst of the worst arrests of criminal illegal aliens. This was publicly framed as a directive to increase arrests of individuals characterized as the worst of the worst, without a specific metric or deadline.
Evidence of progress: The DHS/ICE communications in late December 2025 highlighted ongoing arrests of high-risk individuals, marking a pattern of intensified enforcement prior to 2026. The December 30, 2025 DHS release explicitly describes arrests of individuals convicted of severe crimes, and notes the 2026 resolution to pursue more such cases. There are no public, verifiable 2026 milestones or quarterly targets published in available sources as of early January 2026.
Completion status: There is no evidence in early 2026 that the 2026 promise has been completed. No stated metrics, deadlines, or end dates are published, and the available official material centers on the announced resolution rather than a closed, achieved milestone. The claim remains aspirational and contingent on ICE operations throughout the year.
Dates and milestones: The most concrete date is December 30, 2025, when the DHS release framed the 2026 promise. Individual arrests cited in that release occurred in late December 2025, not in 2026, and no further milestone dates are publicly reported to date. The absence of 2026-specific progress reports means the status is best described as in progress.
Reliability of sources: The primary source is a DHS/ICE official press release (public DHS.gov). Related summaries appear on DHS recap pages and secondary outlets; however, several outlets duplicate or paraphrase DHS statements. Overall, sources are government-origin, but note the propagandistic framing and lack of independent verification for arrest counts.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 10:12 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated as a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more 'worst of the worst' arrests, targeting
high‑risk criminal illegal aliens.
Evidence of progress: Public DHS/ICE communications in late 2025 and early 2026 show ongoing arrests and high‑profile cases labeled as 'worst of the worst,' but these communications do not provide formal metrics, deadlines, or a quantified target for 2026.
Completion status: No documented completion or milestone indicating the pledge has been fulfilled. By 2026-01-02, DHS/ICE had reiterated enforcement posture without announcing a final completion, metric, or date.
Dates and milestones: The pledge appears in a 2025-12-30 DHS/ICE release; subsequent updates through early January 2026 describe ongoing arrests without a stated end condition, metric, or completion date.
Reliability of sources: Information comes from
U.S. federal agency releases (DHS/ICE), which reliably report official statements but are promotional in tone and lack independent verification or transparent progress metrics.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 07:59 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature further actions described as "more worst of the worst arrests," signaling an ongoing or expanded enforcement push in the coming year (DHS press release, 2025-12-30).
Progress evidence: Public DHS communications through December 2025 highlighted ongoing arrests of high-risk individuals described as the worst of the worst, including multiple 2025 incidents and a stated pledge for 2026 in the December 30, 2025 post. No public DHS release or official agency statement as of 2026-01-02 confirms concrete 2026 arrest totals, metrics, or milestones achieved.
Completion status: There is no evidence to indicate that a defined completion has occurred in 2026 by the reporting date; the explicit 2026 pledge exists, but concrete 2026 arrest data or milestones have not been published publicly by DHS/ICE by 2026-01-02.
Dates and milestones: The key dated materials are the December 30, 2025 DHS release containing the pledge and the December 29–30, 2025 summaries of arrests. No verified 2026 milestones (arrest counts, targets, or timelines) have been published publicly by DHS/ICE by 2026-01-02.
Reliability of sources: The reporting is based on official DHS/ICE press releases and DHS.gov pages, which are primary sources for agency statements. While these sources are authoritative for official claims, the content reflects policy messaging and publicized arrests rather than independent verification of outcomes; external coverage should be used to corroborate enforcement results if available.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 06:15 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that its
New Year’s resolution for 2026 would be to conduct more arrests of individuals described as the “worst of the worst.”
Evidence of progress: DHS ICE communications in December 2025 show ongoing enforcement activity with arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of crimes including rape, domestic violence, child abuse, and related offenses. DHS/ICE repeatedly framed these actions as part of a broader campaign and reiterated the 2026 focus in late December statements.
Status of completion: No published completion criteria or deadline for 2026 arrests exists beyond the stated intent. As of 2026-01-02, there is no official document confirming a final count or end date; the material indicates continued enforcement rather than a concluded milestone.
Dates and milestones: Notable items include DHS/ICE notices on December 9, 17, and 30, 2025, plus a December 30 summary page describing 2025 activity and signaling 2026 emphasis. No quantitative targets or completion dates are provided.
Reliability notes: The sources are official DHS/ICE communications, which are authoritative for enforcement announcements but may reflect policy framing rather than independent verification. Cross-checks with independent analyses are limited in the provided material.
Reliability of sources: Official DHS/ICE pages are primary sources for enforcement announcements; they should be weighed alongside independent reporting for broader context.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 03:52 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE pledged in late 2025 that their
New Year’s resolution for 2026 would be to conduct more “worst of the worst arrests,” targeting the most violent and dangerous criminal aliens. The formal statement and examples were published by DHS on December 30, 2025, and quoted a DHS spokesperson promising “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026 (DHS news release, 2025-12-30).
Progress evidence: As of January 2, 2026, there is no DHS-confirmed update showing concrete milestones, arrest counts, or completed operations for 2026. Related DHS communications in late December 2025 and early January 2026 continue to reference prior and ongoing enforcement under the same “worst of the worst” framing, but do not provide measurable progress toward a defined target for 2026 (DHS news releases, 2025-12-30; 2025-12-29).
Status assessment: The available official materials confirm the 2026 objective was stated, but they do not document completion, ongoing deployment, or a finalized timeline. Without explicit 2026 milestones or arrest data, the claim remains in the planning/initiated stage rather than completed. Given the DHS/ICE emphasis on high-profile and violent-crime enforcement in prior periods, the expectation of continued “worst of the worst” arrests is plausible, but evidence of concrete progress in early 2026 is not yet established.
Source reliability note: Information comes from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official press materials and ICE pages, which are primary sources for government enforcement narratives. These sources consistently frame enforcement around high-profile arrests but should be read with potential incentives and political context in mind; they provide verifiable statements of policy and reported arrests, not independent verification of outcomes (DHS.gov; ICE.gov, 2025-12-30; 2025-12-29).
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 01:58 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE signaled a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more “worst of the worst” arrests, implying an expanded enforcement effort against high-priority criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: DHS communications at year-end and New Year’s messages in late December 2025 describe arrests of individuals labeled as the worst of the worst, including cases involving child rape, domestic violence, and drug trafficking (DHS press release, 2025-12-30; DHS summary post, 2025-12-29). The ICE Worst of the Worst (WoW) archive shows ongoing high-profile arrests through 2025, indicating continued emphasis on this category into the transition period (ICE WoW page, 2025 updates). Reliability: DHS.gov is an official government source; the materials are primary statements of policy and enforcement messaging. Independent coverage exists but varies in framing; the core facts come from official DHS/ICE communications. Status: While the 2026 pledge is explicit, there is no post-2025 milestone report published by early January 2026 detailing additional arrests beyond the year-end announcements, so the claim remains in_progress. Completion condition: The stated objective would be fulfilled by demonstrable, ongoing 2026 arrests labeled as “worst of the worst,” which has not been independently validated as fully completed by early 2026.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 12:02 PMin_progress
Restated claim: The DHS/ICE pledge stated in late 2025 that the 2026 calendar year would feature “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, i.e., a continued emphasis on high-profile arrests of the so-called worst of the worst.
Evidence of progress: The original pledge was publicized in a DHS press release dated December 30, 2025, describing arrests of individuals convicted of serious offenses as part of the year-end push and signaling a continued 2026 effort. ICE has maintained public updates on high-profile arrests through late 2025, including a dedicated focus page and press materials.
Current status against completion: As of the current date (2026-01-02), there is no published completion or closure metric, no explicit end date, and no official confirmation that 2026 arrests have concluded or that a final tally has been achieved. Available sources indicate ongoing enforcement activity but do not indicate a formally completed program or a final disposition of the pledge.
Dates and milestones: The core milestone was the December 30, 2025 DHS release announcing the 2026 “more worst of the worst arrests.” There is no subsequent, verifiable milestone confirming completion within 2026. ICE’s own “
Worst of the Worst” materials continue to present arrests in 2025, with no definitive 2026 wrap-up date published in the sources consulted.
Reliability of sources: The primary source is a DHS press release (DHS.gov) and ICE’s related materials, which are official government communications. These sources are appropriate for tracking government enforcement pledges, though they reflect official framing and may emphasize success narratives; independent corroboration would strengthen visibility of ongoing progress.
Follow-up note: If available, reviewing ICE arrest tallies and DHS communications at year-end 2026 would be essential to determine whether the pledge achieved its intended scope or status.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 10:04 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE pledge states a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct "more worst of the worst arrests" among illegal aliens, including the most serious offenders. The wording implies an ongoing effort without a clear metric or deadline. The current date is 2026-01-01, and the claim originates from a 2025-12-30 DHS article.
Evidence of progress: There is no publicly verifiable record as of early 2026 of arrests, milestones, or program metrics explicitly labeled as +worst of the worst arrests+. No ICE or DHS press release or policy document readily confirms a formal campaign with defined progress markers under that descriptor. Independent reporting does not reveal an established progress log.
Completion status: Because there is no documented completion, milestones, or arrest counts tied to this descriptor, the claim cannot be deemed completed. There is also no public accounting indicating ongoing actions beyond the initial pledge.
Dates and milestones: The only date associated with the claim is the 2025-12-30 article announcing the pledge; no subsequent official milestones or end-date have been publicly published as of 2026-01-01. A formal progress update from ICE/DHS would be needed to establish milestones and completion.
Source reliability: The primary source is a DHS.gov article from 2025-12-30. While DHS communications are authoritative for official positions, the absence of corroborating announcements from multiple outlets or DHS documents limits the ability to confirm progress with high confidence.
Follow-up note: A follow-up date is set for 2026-12-31 to reassess any ICE/DHS progress reporting or arrest tallies that may be published during 2026.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 07:42 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated its
New Year’s resolution for 2026 was to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens. The public articulation of this goal appears in a DHS press release dated December 30, 2025, describing arrests carried out the prior day and announcing the 2026 intention (DHS/ICE press release). The completion condition is simply that ICE conducts additional arrests of individuals characterized as the “worst of the worst” during 2026, with no specific metrics or deadlines provided (DHS press release). The current date is January 1, 2026, so the pledge is in its very early stages and there is no published evidence yet of quantified progress or final completion.
Scheduled follow-up · Jan 02, 2026overdue
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 03:48 AMin_progress
Claim restated: The DHS/ICE announcement described a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests” of criminal illegal aliens, including violent offenders and child abusers.
Evidence of initial progress: The official DHS release dated December 30, 2025 publicized the intention and provided examples of arrested individuals in the days around year-end, framing 2026 as a continuation of intensified enforcement. The press material explicitly quotes the 2026 resolution and lists several arrests from the preceding period as context (DHS ICE press release, 2025-12-30).
Evidence of completion status: As of January 1, 2026 there is no publicly available information confirming a formal completion of a milestone or target metric for “more worst of the worst arrests” in 2026. The release itself states a completion condition only in broad terms (ongoing arrests in 2026) without a defined metric or deadline.
Dates and milestones: The primary date is the release date of the DHS article (2025-12-30) establishing the 2026 objective. No subsequent, concrete milestones or quarterly targets are published in the accessible material.
Source reliability: The claim relies on an official DHS/ICE release, which is a primary government source. While it provides direct statements of policy intent, the material is also framed for political messaging; cross-checking with independent, non-partisan outlets is limited in the provided data. Overall, the source is official but should be interpreted in light of policy emphasis and incentives.
Note: Given the lack of a defined completion metric or deadline, the status is best characterized as in_progress rather than complete or failed.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 01:49 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests,” presenting it as a
New Year’s resolution to intensify arrests of high-risk criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: ICE and DHS communications in late 2025 and early 2026 depict ongoing enforcement actions targeting high-severity cases, with official releases and ICE materials highlighting prior and continuing arrests of violent offenders; independent coverage contextualizes intensified enforcement into 2026. Status assessment: There is no verifiable completion or final milestone announced for the 2026 pledge; no fixed end-date or quantified target has been disclosed publicly as of 2026-01-01. Reliability notes: Official DHS/ICE statements are primary for the policy stance but reflect enforcement framing; independent outlets (Reuters, Axios) provide context on enforcement tempo but lack a published, definitive completion metric.
Update · Jan 02, 2026, 12:15 AMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE article frames 2026 as a year with a
New Year’s resolution to conduct more arrests of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, including child sex offenders and other violent criminals (publication: DHS press release, 2025-12-30).
Evidence of progress: As of 2026-01-01, there is no publicly available reporting indicating arrests or enforcement milestones beyond the initial 2025-12-30 statement. The DHS piece documents a stated intent and cites examples of past arrests, but provides no 2026-specific arrest data or timelines.
Completion status: No completion of the promised 2026 arrests can be confirmed yet; the article does not specify metrics, deadlines, or a completion date, only a qualitative promise and a single-day example retrospective to end of 2025.
Dates and milestones: The only concrete date in the material is December 30, 2025 (publication of the statement). The article references “yesterday” for past arrests, but there is no 2026 milestone announced beyond the stated resolution.
Reliability of sources: The primary source is a DHS.gov press release quoting a DHS spokesperson and listing specific individuals arrested in late 2025. This is an official government source, but the claim rests on a stated policy goal rather than verifiable 2026 outcomes. For corroboration, independent outlets had not yet published 2026 arrest data as of 2026-01-01.
Follow-up note: If monitoring progress, check ICE annual arrest data or DHS press releases throughout 2026 for 2026-specific “worst of the worst” arrests and any stated completion metrics.
Completion due · Jan 02, 2026
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 09:54 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in late 2025 that 2026 would feature “more worst of the worst arrests.” The verbatim phrasing described a
New Year’s resolution to increase arrests of individuals deemed the “worst of the worst.”
Progress evidence: A DHS press release dated December 30, 2025 documents ICE actions arresting several high‑profile criminal illegal aliens the day before 2026, and reiterates the pledge for 2026 with the stated goal of expanding such arrests. The page lists multiple individual arrests occurring around that date, illustrating activity tied to the rhetoric in both 2025 and stated plans for 2026.
Completion status: No formal completion criteria or deadline was provided, and there is no public evidence by January 1, 2026 that a defined target number, metric, or end date had been reached or that the program was completed. The official material frames 2026 as a continuing objective rather than a closed project.
Dates and milestones: The key milestone available is December 30–31, 2025, when DHS/ICE highlighted arrests “including child rapists, violent abusers, and drug traffickers,” and explicitly stated the 2026 focus. There are subsequent DHS pages in late 2025 emphasizing ongoing enforcement, but no 2026 completion report or metric is published as of 2026-01-01.
Reliability of sources: Primary sources are
U.S. federal government statements from DHS/ICE, which are official but show a pointed policy framing. Independent outlets cited in earlier results vary in quality; however, the core claim rests on DHS/ICE press releases which are the most reliable records for this topic. Given the absence of a neutral, external verification metric, interpretation should rely on the official stance and reported arrests rather than external analysis.
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 07:49 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests.” The phrase appeared in a DHS press release dated 2025-12-30, describing ICE activity across the prior year and signaling a focus for 2026.
Evidence of progress: Public ICE materials in late 2025 highlighted high-profile arrests of serious criminal aliens, including crimes against children, as part of ICE’s ongoing “worst of the worst” framing (e.g., the 2025-12-30 DHS release and related ICE WoW materials). ICE also maintained a public “
Worst of the Worst” page and enforcement statistics portal showing continued operations through 2025.
Evidence of status as of 2026-01-01: There is no verifiable, published, forward-looking milestone or completion event for 2026 in the record available by 2026-01-01. The available official materials show past arrests and a broad enforcement posture, but not a concrete 2026 completion criterion or a completed set of arrests satisfying the stated promise.
Reliability of sources: The primary source is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press release, an official government channel, which is generally reliable for statements of policy or intent. Supplemental ICE materials (WoW page, enforcement statistics) are official but interpretive; they reflect ongoing enforcement rather than a documented final outcome.
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 06:14 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct more arrests of the agency’s identified “worst of the worst” criminal aliens. The source framing suggests an ongoing policy emphasis rather than a one-off event.
Evidence of progress: ICE has publicly continued to publish and highlight high‑profile and “worst of the worst” arrests through late 2025 and into 2026 on its official channels, including the WoW (Worst of the Worst) pages and related DHS press releases. Notably, DHS messaging around late December 2025 framed ongoing arrests into the start of 2026, but concrete, verifiable counts or milestones for 2026 were not provided in those releases.
Completion status: There is no documented completion of a formal goal or milestone for 2026 as of January 1, 2026. The public record shows ongoing emphasis and public announcements of arrests, but no definitive end-state, metric, or completion date has been published. The framing remains policy emphasis rather than a completed project.
Dates and milestones: The clearest anchors are DHSICE communications from December 29–30, 2025, and ICE WoW content posted through 2025. These establish intent and continued activity but do not present a 2026 endpoint or quantified targets. A follow-up would be needed to confirm any January–December 2026 tranche of arrests or label a completion.
Reliability note: The primary sources are DHS and ICE official communications, which are authoritative for statements of policy and official actions. However, as state-centered agencies, they may frame outcomes to emphasize enforcement priorities; third-party reporting exists but presents interpretive analyses rather than official milestones. Overall, sources are credible for policy posture, with caution warranted on framing and context.
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 03:52 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: DHS/ICE stated a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to pursue “more worst of the worst arrests,” signaling an intent to broaden enforcement against criminal illegal aliens. The original quote framed 2026 as a year for intensified arrests targeting high-priority offenders (e.g., violent criminals and child sex offenders). The completion condition was not a fixed metric or deadline, simply that ICE would conduct additional arrests framed as the “worst of the worst” during 2026.
Evidence of progress: The December 30, 2025 DHS release documents ICE’s actions at year-end and quotes a pledge for 2026, but provides no 2026 arrest totals or milestones yet. Journalistic commentary in late 2025 and early 2026 questions the scope and execution of the “worst of the worst” targeting, and points to ongoing enforcement activity rather than a measurable 2026 outcome. There is no official public update as of 2026-01-01 confirming a quantified increase in 2026 arrests.
Current status of the promise: As of the current date, there is no completed milestone or formal completion of the 2026 promise. News coverage highlights skepticism about the breadth or effectiveness of such targeting, but does not indicate a finalized or delivered 2026 summary. The absence of a specific metric or deadline in the original completion condition limits definitive assessment of completion.
Dates and milestones: The primary dated material is ICE’s year-end release (December 30, 2025) announcing the 2026 resolution, and subsequent media coverage through January 2026 questioning progress. No concrete 2026 arrests or programmatic milestones have been publicly published to date. If ICE intends to publish annual arrest tallies or policy implementation details, those would serve as concrete milestones for completion.
Source reliability note: The principal source is a DHS/ICE press release, which is an official government communiqué but presents a political framing consistent with the incident-driven “worst of the worst” narratives. Secondary coverage includes Politico and other media outlets that scrutinize enforcement data and scope, often with critical framing. Taken together, these sources provide a basic evidentiary base but exhibit diverging emphasis on effectiveness and scope; cross-verification with ICE arrest data would strengthen reliability.
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 01:56 PMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE promised in 2026 to conduct 'more worst of the worst arrests' targeting high-risk criminal illegal aliens, continuing the policy emphasis seen at year-end 2025. The public statement framed 2026 as a
New Year’s resolution to expand arrests of the so-called worst offenders. No formal metric or deadline was provided for completion beyond the 2026 calendar year.
Evidence of progress: Public ICE communications through late December 2025 highlighted ongoing arrests of high-severity cases, including individuals with violent and sexual offense histories. Subsequent DHS summaries reiterated the focus on high-priority criminal aliens in preparations for 2026. As of 2026-01-01, there are no official post-2025 milestones or annual targets published that confirm progress or completion.
Evidence of completion, ongoing status, or failure: There is no evidence of completion by 2026-01-01. The policy remains in the planning/ongoing enforcement phase, with no announced end date or final tally of expected arrests for 2026. News analyses and watchdog reporting in early 2026 note intensified enforcement but do not establish a finalized completion.
Dates and milestones: Key public markers include the ICE/ DHS releases at the end of 2025 describing the prior period and signaling 2026 emphasis, and ICE’s ongoing public updates through 2025. There are no 2026 milestones or completion dates published as of 2026-01-01.
Source reliability note: The core claim derives from official DHS/ICE statements and pages, which are primary sources for policy aims and arrests. Coverage from major outlets provides contextual analysis but may reflect interpretive framing or emphasis on enforcement metrics. Given the sensitivity of immigration enforcement data, cross-verification with ICE arrest dashboards or official fiscal-year summaries would strengthen reliability.
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 12:22 PMin_progress
Claim restatement: The DHS/ICE article asserts a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests,” meaning an intensified push against the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. Evidence of progress: The December 30, 2025 DHS release publicizes the pledge, but provides no metrics, deadlines, or interim progress reports. ICE maintains ongoing enforcement reporting and “
Worst of the Worst” highlights on its sites, yet none prove a concrete 2026 target or measurable advancement tied to the pledge. The current date (2026-01-01) shows the pledge exists, but lacks verifiable progress data within the stated timeframe.
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 11:33 AMin_progress
Claim restated: DHS/ICE announced a
New Year’s resolution for 2026 to conduct “more worst of the worst arrests.” The verbatim promise was published in a 2025 ICE/DHS release (Dec 30, 2025).
Evidence of progress: ICE maintains a public “
Worst of the Worst” showcase and regularly updates high-profile arrests, with a continuous stream of cases documented through 2025 (and ongoing material on the ICE website). The public record demonstrates ongoing enforcement activity at least through 2025, including high-profile removals and arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes as highlighted on ICE’s WoW pages and press materials.
Evidence of completion status: There is no published metric, deadline, or 2026 completion date attached to the pledge. No official ICE press release or DHS statement by January 2026 confirms the promise as completed or canceled; the material available indicates ongoing emphasis on arrest activity rather than a discrete endpoint.
Dates and milestones: The source article dates to December 30, 2025 (DHS.gov). ICE’s public-facing WoW content shows updates through 2025 (e.g., July 2025 updates) and a continuously updated roster of arrests, but no 2026-specific milestone or wrap-up date is provided in the public record available as of January 1, 2026.
Source reliability: The primary sources are official DHS/ICE communications and the ICE website (high reliability for enforcement posture). Coverage from secondary outlets exists but varies in quality;
The Follow Up News guidance prioritizes official sources and cross-checks for accuracy, which are reflected here.
Follow-up status: The claim remains uncompleted with no fixed 2026 endpoint documented; monitoring ICE’s official WoW updates and DHS press releases in 2026 would be necessary to confirm any new milestones or closure of the pledge.
Update · Jan 01, 2026, 10:00 AMin_progress
The claim states DHS/ICE aims to carry out "more worst of the worst arrests" in 2026, described as a
New Year’s resolution to increase arrests of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The source confirms the 2025-12-30 DHS article publicizing this stance, quoting the resolution and listing several high-profile arrests as part of the year-end narrative. There is no metric, deadline, or explicit completion condition attached to the 2026 plan beyond the stated intention, and no official progress report has been published yet.
Evidence of progress in 2026 is not available in the retrieved material; the only dated reference is the 2025-12-30 DHS page announcing the resolve and a brief sample of arrests from that period. Without subsequent quarterly or annual progress updates, it is not possible to confirm implementation, scope, or impact of the 2026 pledge.
As of the current information, the promise remains in the planning/intent stage, with no completed milestones, measurable targets, or verified outcomes. The completion condition is therefore unclear, and the existence of a formal progress tracking mechanism has not been demonstrated in public sources.
Reliability notes: the primary source is an official DHS/DICE news release, which is a formal government communication. Such sources are authoritative for statements of policy or intent but may reflect official framing and messaging; independent verification of outcomes is limited in the available materials.
The follow-up date is provided to monitor for concrete progress: 2026-12-31.
Original article · Dec 30, 2025