DHS Urges Governor Newsom to Halt Release of Over 33,000 Criminal Illegal Aliens into California Communities

In a stark warning, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) called on California  Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta to prioritize public safety by honoring ICE detainers for more than 33,000 criminal illegal aliens currently in state custody. The announcement highlights the grave risks posed by California’s sanctuary policies, which have already led to the release of thousands of dangerous offenders back into communities since January 20, 2026.

According to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, California’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities has resulted in the release of 4,561 criminal illegal aliens in just over two weeks. These individuals have been convicted of serious offenses, including 31 homicides, 661 assaults, 574 burglaries, 184 robberies, 1,489 dangerous drugs offenses, 379 weapons offenses, and 234 sexual predatory offenses. Currently, an additional 33,179 aliens with active ICE detainers remain in California jails, facing charges for 399 homicides, 3,313 assaults, 3,171 burglaries, 1,011 robberies, 8,380 dangerous drugs offenses, 1,984 weapons offenses, and 1,293 sexual predatory offenses. 

“Governor Newsom and his fellow California sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, pedophiles, and drug traffickers from their jails back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk,” Lyons stated in the DHS release.  He urged Newsom to commit to honoring ICE detainers, emphasizing that cooperation could prevent further victimization. Lyons noted that seven of the ten safest cities in the U.S. actively work with ICE, underscoring the effectiveness of such partnerships.

The DHS provided several alarming examples of public safety threats released directly from California jails due to ignored detainers:

• Hector Grijalba-Sernas, a Mexican national arrested for lewd acts with a child under 14, was released in September 2024 despite an ICE detainer and later arrested by ICE in May 2025. 
• Xujin An, a Chinese national charged with sexual penetration by force and sexual battery, was freed in November 2024 and apprehended by ICE in April 2025. 
• Angel Navarro Camarillo, a member of the La Familia street gang from Mexico, was released after a sex offender violation arrest in November 2024 and removed by ICE in July 2025. 
• Vicente Centeno-Lugo, a Mexican national with a 28-year criminal history including child cruelty and drug possession, was repeatedly released by Santa Clara County despite multiple detainers. 
• Carmelo Corado Hurtado, a Guatemalan convicted of first-degree murder and DUI, was released and removed by ICE in February 2025. 
• Raphael Arturovich Gevorgyan, an Armenian Power gang member from Armenia convicted of voluntary manslaughter, was released after an obstruction arrest in November 2025 and remains in ICE custody. 
• Victor Hernandez-Jiron, an El Salvadoran charged with attempted murder and domestic violence, was released in 2025 and apprehended by ICE. 
• Monica Gonzalez-Riedel, a Mexican national arrested for child cruelty and assault with a deadly weapon, was released by San Diego authorities in March 2025. 
• Sara Hassanzadeh, an Iranian charged with aggravated assault and battery on an ex-spouse, was freed by San Diego in September 2025. 
• Elvin Joel Centeno Verde, a Honduran convicted of drug trafficking, was released and removed by ICE in October 2025. 

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem amplified the urgency on X (formerly Twitter), directly calling on Newsom to prevent the release of these 33,179 individuals without ICE notification.

I am urgently calling on @gavinnewsom to agree to NOT release the 33,179 criminal illegal aliens in California’s custody back into the public without notifying ICE.

The crimes of these aliens include 399 homicides, 3,313 assaults, 3,171 burglaries, 1,011 robberies, 8,380…

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) February 6, 2026

In response, Governor Newsom’s press office dismissed the concerns, accusing Noem and others of distraction tactics. “You and Karolyin’ are working overtime today to distract from Trump’s disgusting monkey video,” the office posted on X. “California cooperates with ICE when it comes to REMOVING CRIMINALS — like sick rapists and murderers — in our state prisons.” A follow-up urged Noem to “Google before tweeting.”

We googled and found hundreds of Globe articles related to Newsom’s “criminal justice” policies that are remarkably great for felons and remarkably bad for law-abiding Californians and businesses.

Proposition 47, passed by misinformed voters in 2014, deceivingly titled “The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act,” decriminalized drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, removing law enforcement’s ability to make an arrest in most circumstances and a judges’ ability to order drug rehabilitation programs rather than incarceration. Proposition 47, supported by then-Lt. Gov. Newsom, reclassified many felonies as misdemeanors, including thefts under $950 and certain drug offenses, leading to increased recidivism and retail theft epidemics. 

Proposition 57, shamelessly titled “the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act” passed in 2016, allowed “nonviolent felons” to qualify for early release, and parole boards now only consider an inmate’s most recent charge, and not their entire history because of this proposition. Notably, both Prop. 47 and 57 were given their ballot titles by then-Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Crimes considered “nonviolent” under Proposition 57 in California include:

• human trafficking of a child
• rape of an unconscious person or by intoxication
• drive by shooting at inhabited dwelling or vehicle
• assault with a firearm or deadly weapon
• assault on a police officer
• serial arson
• exploding a bomb to injure people
• solicitation to commit murder
• assault from a caregiver to a child under eight years old that could result in a coma or death
• felony domestic violence.

Newsom has also approved multiple prison closures despite voter-approved measures like Proposition 36 in 2024, which aimed to reform Prop 47 by restoring tougher penalties for repeat offenders. Prop 36 was passed with an overwhelming 70 percent of the vote, but Newsom and the Democratic majority in the legislature have since refused to fund the measure in the state budget. 

During the pandemic, Newsom’s administration expanded early-release credits for inmates, making approximately 76,000 prisoners eligible for accelerated release through changes to good behavior credits and related policies.

Retail owners continue to express frustration with Newsom’s responses to rampant theft, pointing to lax enforcement as a direct contributor to California’s crime surge. Violent crime rates remain elevated, contradicting Newsom’s claims of reductions, particularly in sanctuary jurisdictions.

In January 2024, In-N-Out Burger announced that the last remaining franchise location in Oakland would close because of heightened crime, continuing a long trend of businesses closing in the Bay Area.

“We have made the decision to close our In-N-Out Burger location in Oakland, California, because of ongoing issues with crime. We are grateful for the local community, which has supported us for over 18 years, and we recognize that this closure negatively impacts our Associates and their families,” said Chief Operating Officer Denny Warwick in a statement. “Additionally, this location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and wellbeing of our Customers and Associates – we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment. Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies.”

Additionally, laws reducing sentences for gang-related crimes and other reforms have drawn warnings from district attorneys about increased fallout.

As federal pressure mounts, Californians are left questioning whether state democrats will heed the continued call to protect communities or continue policies that prioritize sanctuary status and prison population management over safety. The DHS’s examples serve as a sobering reminder of the human cost of ignored detainers. With more releases potentially on the horizon without immediate action, prepare for another crime wave courtesy of Democratic leadership.