The ongoing dispute between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the state of California continues to intensify as both sides grapple with the handling of undocumented inmates in the state’s prison system.
California, a sanctuary state, has laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, but these restrictions do not fully apply to the state’s prisons.
ICE reports that over 33,000 undocumented immigrants are currently in California prisons.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has urged California officials to enhance their cooperation with ICE, while Governor Gavin Newsom argues that ICE is failing to manage the situation effectively.
“Since they don’t bother to pick up one out of every eight, it shows they just want to cause panic and fear to ultimately ensure compliance to a dangerous immigration agenda,” said the governor’s office.
In 2019, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reported approximately 124,000 inmates, with 18% born outside the U.S.
This group, which includes legal residents, naturalized citizens, and potential undocumented immigrants, is automatically reported to ICE to determine their citizenship status and whether they should be taken into ICE custody upon release.
The governor’s office said The CDCR has coordinated the transfer of over 12,000 individuals into ICE custody since 2019.
However, ICE claims that when agencies do not honor a 48-hour detainer request beyond an inmate’s scheduled release, it forces ICE agents to pursue individuals in the community, which they say is more dangerous.
The governor’s office maintains that the CDCR will not hold individuals past their scheduled release date, emphasizing that if ICE is not present on the release day, they miss the opportunity to take custody.
Despite reaching out, ICE has not responded to inquiries about the cooperation between the CDCR and ICE.