Illegal aliens who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement were responsible for over 48,000 assault offenses in 2017, according to a Thursday White House press release.

Illegals captured by ICE were also responsible for more than 5,000 sexual assault offenses, 2,000 kidnapping offenses, 1,800 homicide offenses and 76,000 dangerous drug offenses, according to the press release.

In addition, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit made 4,818 gang arrests in 2017.

“Abolishing ICE would mean that countless illegal aliens who pose a threat to public safety would be allowed to roam free — killing, injuring, and threatening Americans — instead of being removed from the country,” the press release reads.

The release also highlights the role of ICE in seizing illegal drugs, noting the agency seized 980,000 pounds of narcotics in 2017, with 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin seized.

“Abolishing ICE would mean open borders because it would eliminate the agency responsible for removing people who enter or remain in our country illegally,” the press release stated.

The release comes in the wake of several Democrats calling for the abolition of ICE, including New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, according to a Tuesday CNN politics report. (RELATED: Gillibrand Becomes The First Senator To Call For Abolishing ICE, But It’s A Pivot From Her Past Views On Immigration)

Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders also called for the abolition of ICE on Tuesday, tweeting that the agency was “cruel” and “dysfunctional” and saying that Americans overwhelmingly want to abolish it, despite polls showing only 10 percent want to abolish the agency, according to a Tuesday Daily Caller News Foundation report.

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