WOW.DHS.gov is the Department of Homeland Security’s “Worst of the Worst” public webpage that aggregates and makes searchable ICE enforcement cases. The site publishes names, country of origin, listed convictions or alleged offenses, arrest/removal locations, and filters (state, country, crime) for criminal non‑citizens ICE says it arrested or removed.
There is no single statutory phrase "criminal illegal alien" used uniformly; DHS/ICE use it colloquially to mean a non‑citizen with a criminal record or charged with criminal offenses. In statute, 8 U.S.C. §1231(i)(3) defines an "undocumented criminal alien" for certain purposes as an alien convicted of a felony or two or more misdemeanors who lacks lawful status (or meets related criteria). ICE’s Criminal Alien Program similarly describes "criminal aliens" as noncitizens with criminal convictions whom ICE prioritizes for arrest and removal.
The DHS release describes the 15 people as "convicted" of the listed crimes — i.e., it presents them as having prior convictions. The release itself lists convictions for each named individual but does not include court case numbers or conviction dates; independent confirmation would require checking local court records or prosecutor statements.
Typical steps: ICE/ERO may place a detainer and take custody (often after a criminal sentence ends or via programs like the Institutional Hearing and Removal Program), transfer the person into federal immigration detention, initiate removal (deportation) proceedings before an immigration court (EOIR), and, if no relief is granted, execute removal. Some cases involve parallel criminal prosecutions (federal or state) before or after ICE custody; outcomes depend on sentences, immigration status, appeals/asylum claims, and court orders.
ICE identifies and locates noncitizens through multiple channels: electronic checks of criminal justice databases and local jail rosters; information-sharing with state and local law enforcement (including 287(g) agreements and local bookings); CAP reviews of incarcerated populations; and federal databases used by ICE/HSI. ICE puts detainers on individuals in local custody and coordinates transfers or takes custody when sentences end or via targeted operations.
Tricia McLaughlin is Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Acting Assistant Secretary or senior DHS official overseeing ICE-related public statements in this release). In the release she is quoted as speaking for DHS/ICE about enforcement; ICE leadership and DHS officials typically oversee policy, public communications and operational priorities for Enforcement and Removal Operations and HSI activities.
The release does not state whether the named individuals had active immigration cases (asylum claims, pending appeals, or stays) at the time of arrest. It lists convictions and arrest locations but gives no information about pending immigration filings or court appeals; that information would require case records from EOIR/ICE or local courts.