EXCLUSIVE: Internal communications by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, obtained by Fox News Digital, give a glimpse into a protracted delay of a much-anticipated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report, which outlined the numbers of arrests and deportations of illegal immigrants and had been expected at the end of 2021 — but was not released until deep into 2022.
ICE’s annual report for FY 2021, which would show a sharp decline in the number of arrests and deportations of illegal immigrants under the Biden administration, was expected at the end of 2021 — but was not released until March 11, 2022.
The failure to release the report by the end of the calendar year sparked accusations that DHS was trying to hide the impact of the administration’s policies. DHS denied this was the case and told Fox in early January that the report was in final review and its release was expected later that month.
But emails and text messages, obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request and given to Fox News Digital, show how ICE officials were expecting a release any day in early January — but kept getting hit by delay after delay.
“The rollout and report are back w/DHS, We now wait!” one text from an ICE official from Jan. 20, nearly two months before the report was released, said.
On Dec. 23, 2021, officials discussed waiting for end of year numbers to be approved, adding that timing “might be next week, might be first week of January” and that approvals were still ongoing.
However, even after the first week of January, ICE officials still believed it was imminent and were prodding for a DHS signoff.
“The annual report going up to DHS tonight for final sign-off with direction that we’ll push yet this week,” a redacted official said.
The communications show how, at times, staff worked late into the night preparing graphics and coordinating on text. Frustration came through with the combinations of delays and edits.
“I’m pissed” one texted, to which another replied “#Same”
On January 14, the report comes up again in communications, and shows that the report is being tinkered with ahead of being given to DHS’ Office of Public Affairs. Six days later, texts indicate that again ICE officials are expecting an imminent release, with an official asking “do we have any indication that the annual report would release tmrw” — but another tamps down expectations that it would be released the following day.
“Will not be tomorrow, roll [out] plan is not close to going to [Front Office]. Will need to go to counselors and [Office of General Counsel] for review before I can get it to FO. my hope is to send it to them by EOD tomorrow.”
The same day, an ICE official indicates that the ball is now officially in DHS’ court.
“The rollout and report are back w/DHS,” the first official replies. “We now wait!”
That communication was on Jan. 20, and the eventual report would not be released until March 11.
On Jan. 24, what appears to be a DHS official texting an ICE official seeking “numbers” — believed to be arrest and deportation numbers — for “S1.” S1 typically refers to the secretary, in this case Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The official says that they were asked to get the numbers so that Mayorkas can have them in front of him at an unspecified meeting.
“I’m going to look at the annual report tomorrow morning, will want to make sure we’re on the same page with numbers,” the DHS official says.
“We have no other pages,” the ICE…
Read More: DHS texts reveal how ICE arrest, deportation report was delayed for months: ‘We now wait!’