1,500 caravan members had U.S. criminal convictions

Migrant caravan moving through Mexico in October 2018 (Fox Business Network screenshot)

Democratic lawmakers insist there are no dangerous criminals embedded in the migrant caravans from Central America, but government data shows otherwise.

More than 1,500 Central American migrants who traveled in two caravans within the last year had criminal convictions in the United States, according to documents provided by Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to House Oversight Committee Republicans, the Gateway Pundit reported.

The Republicans on the panel wrote the Department of Homeland Security in February about the threat in a letter obtained by the Gateway Pundit.

The letter cited the finding by CBP's Office of Intelligence that among the 8,000 migrants in a caravan that arrived at the California border in December were 660 people with U.S. criminal convictions.

"Nearly 40 were convicted of assault or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Three individuals were convicted of murder," the letter stated.

In January, CBP tracked another migrant caravan that departed Honduras with about 3,300 migrants. ICE discovered that one-fourth of the caravan, 860 migrants, had U.S. criminal histories.

"Over 20 convicted of assault or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, nearly 30 convicted of sexual offenses, two convicted of violence against law enforcement, and one convicted of attempted murder," the letter stated.

In February, as House Democrats blocked efforts to fund a border wall, President Trump declared a national emergency to divert funds from the Pentagon. Democrats also oppose proposals to change asylum laws that would deter the formation of the massive migrant caravans.

The Gateway Pundit said CBP is currently monitoring other caravans in southern Mexico.

In the letter, Republican House Oversight Committee members Jim Jordan of Ohio and Mark Meadows of North Carolina asked the DHS acting secretary to provide additional information about criminal migrants.

They want data on arrest warrants and court documents by no later than July 5.