ICE Escalates Feud with California Governor, Demands End to “Dangerous Derangement” Over Sanctuary Policies
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a blistering public statement directed at California Governor Gavin Newsom, demanding his administration immediately reverse course on its sanctuary state policies. In a sharp rebuke shared on social media, the federal agency called on the Governor to “stop this dangerous derangement” and commit to honoring federal immigration detainers, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between federal enforcement and state sovereignty.
Federal Push for Detainer Compliance
The agency’s latest demand centers on the enforcement of “detainers”—requests lodged by ICE asking local jails to hold undocumented individuals for an additional 48 hours after their release date so they can be transferred into federal custody. ICE argues that California’s refusal to honor these requests under state law allows individuals with criminal records to return to the community rather than facing deportation proceedings. This clash has intensified following recent high-profile cases where non-citizens released from local custody were subsequently accused of committing serious crimes. Federal officials have characterized the state’s non-cooperation as a direct threat to public safety, urging the Newsom administration to prioritize federal partnership over what they term “derangement.”
California’s Legal Stance: The Values Act
At the heart of this dispute is the California Values Act (SB 54), signed into law in 2017. This legislation generally prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes. Under this law, local authorities are restricted from notifying ICE about an inmate’s release unless the individual has been convicted of specific serious or violent felonies. Supporters of the policy argue that disentangling local police from federal immigration enforcement is crucial for community safety. They maintain that when immigrants view local police as an arm of ICE, they are less likely to report crimes or serve as witnesses, ultimately making communities less safe.
State Defense and Objections
Governor Newsom’s administration and immigrant rights advocates strongly oppose ICE’s characterization of their policies. They argue that the term “dangerous derangement” is inflammatory rhetoric designed to politicize public safety. The state’s position remains that local law enforcement should focus on local policing rather than doing the work of federal agents. Furthermore, legal experts in California have long pointed out that ICE detainers are administrative requests, not judicial warrants signed by a judge, and honoring them without a warrant raises Fourth Amendment constitutional concerns regarding unlawful seizure. The Governor’s office maintains that their policies adhere to the constitution while fostering trust between law enforcement and California’s diverse communities.
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