U.S. agency alleges California released nearly 24,000 with criminal records

The Department of Homeland Security released a statement accusing California of refusing to honor federal immigration detainers against thousands of people in state and local custody. Since January 20, 2025, DHS claims California has released nearly 24,000 individuals with criminal records back into communities.‍​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‍

According to the agency, those released individuals have more than 81,000 criminal charges or convictions associated with them. DHS cited 169 homicides, 147 sexual assaults, 1,088 drug trafficking charges, 1,097 assaults, and 3,295 burglaries among the charges.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said: “California sanctuary politicians have repeatedly chosen to ignore ICE detainers for illegal aliens in their custody, and released murderers, child abusers, kidnappers, and gang members back onto the street.”‍​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‍

The agency listed individual cases involving people released from Los Angeles County, San Francisco County, Sacramento County, and other California jurisdictions despite pending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, according to DHS. Those individuals have convictions or charges related to homicide, manslaughter, sexual assault, assault, robbery, kidnapping, and gang activities, the agency said.‍​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‍

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Distributed via BLINK Wire.