DHS Criticizes California Sanctuary Policies, Citing Over 33,000 Active ICE Detainers
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a sharp rebuke of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration, characterizing the state’s approach to immigration enforcement as a “sanctuary calamity.” According to figures released by the agency, there are currently 33,179 individuals classified as criminal non-citizens in California state custody who have active detainers filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The release of these statistics underscores the long-standing jurisdictional conflict between federal immigration authorities and California’s “sanctuary state” laws. Under legislation such as the California Values Act (SB 54), state and local law enforcement are largely restricted from using resources to assist with federal immigration enforcement. These policies were enacted to foster trust between immigrant communities and local police, ensuring that victims and witnesses can report crimes without fear of deportation.
However, the framing of the data by DHS has drawn objections from state officials and civil rights advocates who argue that the numbers lack necessary context. Critics of the DHS position note that an ICE detainer is a civil administrative request to hold an individual, not a judicial warrant signed by a judge or magistrate based on probable cause. Furthermore, supporters of California’s policies emphasize that state law still permits cooperation with federal agents when individuals have been convicted of serious or violent felonies, contesting the narrative that the state shields dangerous criminals from federal oversight.
