DHS “Worst Of The Worst” Roster Includes Dozens With Only Traffic Or Minor Convictions

The Department of Homeland Security's new public roster of so-called "worst criminal aliens"—promoted by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem—has drawn scrutiny after a Daily Beast review found that dozens of people featured on the site have only traffic or other minor convictions on record.

Two of the supposed “worst of the worst” migrant criminals, as described by the Department of Homeland Security, whose only listed crime is “traffic offense.” / Department of Homeland Security

What the Roster Shows

The DHS pages, which launched with roughly 10,000 names, list each person's name, listed convictions, and the city and state where they were taken into custody. According to the Daily Beast review, at least 30 people on the roster appear to have traffic offenses as their only recorded criminal conviction. Many other entries list nonviolent or administrative charges such as "Illegal Re-Entry" or minor drug possession.

Homepage for DHS’ new “worst of the worst” website. / Department of Homeland Security

Geography and Demographics

Detainees on the site come from every U.S. state. Texas accounts for the largest share with 2,122 arrests, followed by California with 1,524. Alaska shows the fewest, with three arrests. In the Daily Beast sample of traffic-only cases, 28 of the roughly 30 individuals were men from Latin America (including 13 from Mexico, five from El Salvador and four from Guatemala); the sample also included a woman from Honduras and a man from South Korea.

Some of the supposed “worst of the worst” offenders have only been convicted of possessing marijuana. / Department of Homeland Security

Examples And Context

Some entries list marijuana possession as the only charge for detainees arrested in states where possession is no longer a criminal offense. Dozens more are listed only for "Illegal Re-Entry," an administrative immigration violation that reflects a prior removal from the United States rather than a new violent crime.

Dozens of the “worst of the worst” arrestees were only convicted of “illegal re-entry.” / Department of Homeland Security

The roster also includes mugshots of migrants DHS says were convicted of murder, manslaughter and other violent offenses; those cases are featured alongside less-serious entries, which critics say creates a misleading impression under the banner "Worst Criminal Aliens Arrested."

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement: "As the media whitewashes the facts, day in and day out, our brave men and women of ICE risk their lives for the American people... With this transparent tool, they can see for themselves what public safety threats were lurking in their neighborhoods."

Public Reaction And Political Context

The site allows visitors to share mugshots directly to social platforms such as Truth Social, X and Facebook. Supporters describe the roster as a transparency tool; critics say the dramatic "worst of the worst" label is misleading when applied to people whose only convictions are traffic violations, marijuana possession in some cases, or administrative immigration violations.

Governor Kristi Noem—who has been dubbed "ICE Barbie" in some media coverage—has her own well-documented history of traffic citations. During her 2010 campaign for Congress, records showed multiple speeding tickets and other driving citations; Noem has said she was "not proud" of that record and sought to set a better example.

Observers also note the roster's release follows aggressive ICE enforcement actions over the summer, including raids targeting day laborers and farmworkers—operations that were reported to have been requested by senior White House advisers.

Bottom line: While the roster includes people convicted of serious violent crimes, the inclusion of those with only minor traffic or administrative offenses has raised questions about labeling, proportionality and the public presentation of enforcement actions.