Hagerstown Sees Significant Increase in ‘Worst of the Worst’ ICE Arrests, DHS Data Shows

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its “Worst of the Worst” online database, adding an additional 5,000 individuals with criminal histories who are reportedly in the country unlawfully, bringing the total number of entries to over 30,000. This update includes a notable increase in individuals arrested in Hagerstown, Maryland, with the number of such entries now reaching 51, an increase of 35 from the previously reported 16 individuals. The “Worst of the Worst” webpage, launched in December 2025, provides public access to records of individuals arrested nationwide who have faced charges including homicide, assault, rape, drug trafficking, child molestation, and armed robbery, among other offenses.

Updated 2/20/2026 12:09 PM to include screenshot of duplicate entries in the database and better clarify arrest location context.

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The expansion of the database aims to increase transparency regarding individuals apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who have criminal records. The department states that the information available on the webpage allows the public to search through records of hundreds of thousands of individuals arrested across all 50 states. This initiative is presented by DHS as part of an effort to be the most transparent administration in American history.

Previous reporting from Radio Free Hub City had investigated the reasons for a perceived increase in ICE arrests in Hagerstown, suggesting a correlation with individuals detained at the Washington County Detention Center or those being released from Maryland correctional facilities. Between January 20, 2025, and December 11, 2025, five individuals were reportedly arrested by ICE from the Washington County Detention Center, according to information from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. A comprehensive analysis of arrest data is still pending, awaiting statistics from Maryland Corrections and DHS-ICE. The initial findings from the Sheriff’s Office appeared to support the theory that many of those detained by ICE had already been in local or state custody. However, efforts to independently verify the criminal convictions listed on the DHS “Worst of the Worst” website for individuals arrested in Hagerstown continues to encounter challenges. Difficulties in matching names or discrepancies in reported cases made independent verification of some individuals’ criminal histories problematic. In some instances, news reports referencing individuals on the list primarily cited the initial DHS release, creating a cycle of coverage that can not independently validate the claims without prior documentation of convictions. It’s also important to note that none of the records include arrest date, so it’s possible these individuals were previously arrested by ICE and not reported. We also identified at least one duplicate record with similar names, showing even DHS is struggling with this issue.

Additionally, just because an individual was arrested at a location specified by DHS, doesn’t mean they were residing there. For example, “Melissa” aka Mong Tran, a mother from Hagerstown, MD, is not listed among the Hagerstown statistics. Instead, her location of arrest is listed as Baltimore, MD, as she was arrested during a check-in with ICE. Tran was deported due to a decades-old theft conviction.

The DHS “Worst of the Worst” list details specific individuals arrested in Hagerstown, categorized by their country of origin and the alleged crimes. These listed offenses include a range of serious felonies such as rape, homicide, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, and various sex offenses involving minors. Among those listed as arrested in Hagerstown are individuals from El Salvador, Honduras, Cuba, South Korea, Guatemala, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Haiti, Cameroon, Trinidad and Tobago, Pakistan, Peru, Guyana, Senegal, Dominican Republic, and Nigeria. The specific charges attributed to these individuals are extensive and cover a broad spectrum of violent crimes and offenses against children.

This enhanced public database from DHS provides citizens with direct access to information about individuals with criminal histories who have been encountered by immigration authorities. Residents can use the website to search for individuals arrested in their communities and review their alleged criminal backgrounds.

Because the criminal convictions may have occurred across numerous states and DHS did not provide the specific court disposition records needed for verification, Radio Free Hub City was unable to independently confirm the specific convictions for the 51 individuals through local and state public court records, although initial searches of news articles did locate relevant articles for some offenders, many of which occurred outside of Maryland. As noted by GAO, DHS does not fully explain its methodology in calculating its statistics, and they cannot be verified.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Department of Homeland Security

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