ICE Discovers How to Bypass Sanctuary City Policy—'There's No Choice'

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department resumed transferring jail inmates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in May and June.

"We will only transfer an individual into ICE custody if we are presented with a federal judicial warrant that's signed by a judge. That is consistent with California law and county policy," Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press conference on July 17.

Luna said Thursday that his department has "no choice" but to comply with ICE and the federal government.

Newsweek reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and ICE for comment.

Why It Matters

Despite California's sanctuary laws limiting cooperation with ICE on civil matters, local authorities are required to comply with federal judicial warrants concerning illegal reentry and other criminal offenses, regardless of state or local policies. Federal judicial warrants override local sanctuary policies.

However, the transfer request appears to be a new tactic deployed by the government. President Donald Trump directed immigration agents to increase enforcement operations in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles as his administration carries out plans to conduct widespread deportations of immigrants.

What To Know

Luna said that while such transfers are infrequent, they have occurred over the past two months, adding that his department remains in compliance with both local and state laws.

"The sheriff's department complies fully with California Senate 54 and the 2020 Los Angeles county policy which prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials except under very specific and lawful circumstances," Luna told reporters.

Luna said the county complies with inmate transfers only under specific circumstances. The department transferred 20 individuals between May and June, most of whom faced serious or violent charges, including attempted murder, robbery, rape, and sexual battery. Each transfer was carried out under a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

Eight inmates were transferred to ICE in May, followed by twelve more in June, according to records from the sheriff's department reviewed by the Los Angeles Times.

Of those transferred, eleven were from Mexico, six from Guatemala, and one each from Colombia, El Salvador, and Honduras, the outlet reported. Their ages ranged between 19 and 63 years old.

These transfers mark the first time the sheriff's department has handed over inmates to ICE since early 2020, when 43 individuals were transferred from sheriff's stations, jails, and courts. This represented a significant decrease from 2019, when 457 people were transferred during Trump's first term.

The Trump administration secured federal judicial warrants for all but one of the inmates transferred in May and June.

The Los Angeles Times reported that one inmate was serving a six-year sentence for felony voluntary manslaughter, another had entered a not guilty plea to a domestic violence-related charge on May 21, and a third was jailed for 99 days for violating the terms of post-release supervision.

What People Are Saying

L.A. County Inspector General Max Huntsman told the Los Angeles Times: "We have been monitoring sheriff messaging on ICE cooperation and it is our understanding that the recent transfers of prisoners to ICE are all in response to judicially issued warrants as required by federal and state law."

"Despite 'sanctuary' rhetoric, we are unaware of any conflict between California and federal law on this requirement."

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press conference: "These warrants are an effective and peaceful vehicle in transferring individuals who have committed violent or serious crimes."