Gavin Newsom's office responds to '10,000 arrests' of migrants in LA
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office has issued a rebuke of the federal government’s immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that more than 10,000 migrants had been arrested in the region since June.
“This is all part of this sick game of cruelty and chaos that President and Stephen Miller are playing," Diana Crofts-Pelayo, deputy director of communications at Newsom's office, told Newsweek. "The reality is that their obsession with mass arrests, detention and deportations is spurring indiscriminate and racially-motivated immigration raids with serious societal and economic consequences."
The DHS announced on Thursday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had made over 10,000 arrests of individuals it says are in the country unlawfully, including individuals the agency describes as "murderers, kidnappers, sexual predators, and armed carjackers."
Why It Matters
California, led by Newsom, who is widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has been on the front lines of the Democratic resistance to the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy. The state has repeatedly gone toe-to-toe with the federal government over immigration policy, positioning itself as one of the most visible counterweights to the federal government's approach.
What To Know
Crofts-Pelayo, a senior Newsom aide, pointed to federal agents having wrongly detained U.S. citizens and individuals who are legally navigating the immigration system.
"They are arresting American citizens, hardworking parents and contributors to our economy, while also wasting taxpayer money to go after those who are legitimately going through the legal immigration process, like the spouses of U.S. citizens," Crofts-Pelayo said.
“Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass failed the people of California. They let these criminals roam free. Thanks to our brave law enforcement, California is safer with these thugs off their streets," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a press release issued on December 11. "Instead of thanking our law enforcement for removing criminals from their communities, Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass repeatedly demonized our brave law enforcement during these operations.”
In the press release, DHS listed several individuals arrested in Los Angeles as part of its ongoing enforcement operations.
Among the 10 listed by DHS, was an Iranian national, convicted of rape, aggravated assault, domestic violence, burglary, and driving under the influence; a Mexican national, who was convicted of armed carjacking, vehicle theft, and vandalism; and an Armenian national, who was convicted of kidnapping, homicide, fraud, burglary, larceny, and forgery, still per DHS.
There is a clear divide between California officials and federal authorities over immigration enforcement, the scope of federal power in local jurisdictions, and the public-safety implications of large-scale operations in major cities.
California’s sanctuary policies limit the extent to which state and local law enforcement agencies can cooperate with federal immigration authorities, particularly in cases involving individuals who have not been convicted of serious or violent crimes.
Supporters argue that the policies build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement and improve public safety by encouraging victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear.
Critics argue the rules hinder federal enforcement efforts and allow public safety threats to remain in communities.
The state of California says that it continues to coordinate with federal authorities when individuals convicted of serious offenses are released from state custody.
What People Are Saying
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a press release:
“In the face of violence from rioters and demonization by sanctuary politicians, DHS law enforcement has made over 10,000 arrests in Los Angeles since operations began in June. Some of the most heinous criminal illegal aliens arrested include murderers, kidnappers, sexual predators, and armed carjackers."
Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a senior aide at Newsom's office, told Newsweek: "California is on record to help ensure bad criminals have no place in our society, including coordinating with ICE when these people get out of our prisons. We support public safety, while the Trump agenda is all for inflating headlines."
What Happens Next
Immigration enforcement operations are expected to continue across California.