PONTIAC, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Ignacio Ruiz-Saldias was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison by a judge June 16 for his role in a string of widely publicized and highly orchestrated home invasions in affluent Detroit suburbs.

Attorney General Dana Nessel identified Ruiz-Saldias as a Chilean national, as did dozens of local TV and newspaper outlets. But almost all the news outlets did not report that Ruiz-Saldias is an illegal immigrant. That’s according to Stephen Huber, public information office for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Oakland County jail, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a immigration detainer on him that allows ICE to take him in custody once he is released. Huber said Ruiz-Saldias will be deported after he serves his prison sentence.

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Ruiz-Saldias’ status as an illegal immigrant was not mentioned in all but a handful of stories. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department said Ruiz-Saldias, 29, was part of a transnational gang that was operating out of the Detroit area.

Ruiz-Saldias is an example of the focus of President Donald Trump’s deportation policy – illegal immigrants who are criminals. The Michigan Attorney General also stated in a press release that Ruiz-Saldias was convicted in separate home  invasion-related charges in Hamilton County, Indiana.

Nationwide, there has been criticism of legacy media and how it treats crimes involving illegal migrants. The City Journal, a public affairs news site published by the Manhattan Institute, wrote a May 2024 story about mainstream media outlets playing down or ignoring crime stories involving illegal migrants titled, “Nothing to See Here.”