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ICE Director Urges California to Honor Immigration Detainers

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ICE Urges California to Honor Immigration Detainers Amid Public Safety Concerns

Acting Director Todd Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has formally requested California Attorney General Rob Bonta to honor ICE arrest detainers for individuals in state custody who are subject to immigration enforcement. This appeal comes as ICE expresses significant concerns regarding public safety and the release of thousands of individuals with serious criminal allegations.

Detainer Statistics and Public Safety Concerns

ICE reported that 33,179 individuals currently in California's custody have active immigration detainers. The agency provided a detailed list of crimes associated with these individuals, including:

  • 399 homicides
  • 3,313 assaults
  • 3,171 burglaries
  • 1,011 robberies
  • 8,380 dangerous drug offenses
  • 1,984 weapons offenses
  • 1,293 sexual predatory offenses

California's policy of not honoring these detainers has reportedly led to the release of 4,561 individuals since January 20. The alleged crimes of these released individuals are equally concerning:

  • 31 homicides
  • 661 assaults
  • 574 burglaries
  • 184 robberies
  • 1,489 dangerous drug offenses
  • 379 weapons offenses
  • 234 sexual predatory offenses

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that "California's policies are releasing individuals who pose risks to public safety." She urged the state to honor the detainers, emphasizing that "cooperation with ICE law enforcement is a factor in the safety of U.S. cities."

Examples of Individuals Released Despite Detainers

ICE provided several specific examples of individuals released from California custody despite lodged immigration detainers:

  • Hector Grijalba-Sernas (Mexico): Arrested for lewd or lascivious acts with a child. Released after a detainer was not honored. Later arrested by ICE.
  • Xujin An (China): Arrested for sexual penetration with force and sexual battery. Released after a detainer was not honored. Later arrested by ICE and remains in custody.
  • Angel Navarro Camarillo (Mexico): Alleged La Familia street gang member arrested for a sex offender violation. Released after a detainer was not honored. Later arrested by ICE and removed from the U.S.
  • Vicente Centeno-Lugo (Mexico): History of convictions including hit-and-run, child cruelty, drug possession, and vehicle theft. Santa Clara County Jail reportedly refused multiple ICE detainers, leading to his release.
  • Carmelo Corado Hurtado (Guatemala): Convicted of first-degree murder, DUI, and second-degree robbery. Released after a detainer was not honored. Later arrested by ICE and removed from the U.S.
  • Raphael Arturovich Gevorgyan (Armenia): Alleged Armenian Power gang member convicted of voluntary manslaughter and other crimes. Released after a detainer was not honored. Later arrested by ICE and remains in custody pending removal.
  • Victor Hernandez-Jiron (El Salvador): Arrested for attempted murder, spousal injury, and other violent crimes. Released after a detainer was not honored. Later apprehended by ICE and remains in custody.
  • Monica Gonzalez-Riedel (Mexico): Arrested for child cruelty and assault with a deadly weapon. Released after a detainer was rejected.
  • Sara Hassanzadeh (Iran): Arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. Released after a detainer was rejected.
  • Elvin Joel Centeno Verde (Honduras): Convicted of obstruction of police and arrested multiple times for drug trafficking. Released after a detainer was not honored. Later apprehended by ICE and removed from the U.S.

Legal Argument for Administrative Warrants

In the letter dated February 4, 2026, Acting Director Lyons referenced U.S. v. Lucas (2007), an Eighth Circuit Appeals Court case. He cited this case to underscore the legal basis for using administrative warrants to arrest individuals with final orders of removal.

The letter argued that an individual subject to a final order of removal has a diminished expectation of privacy, which is weighed against the government's compelling interest in enforcing federal immigration laws.

Lyons clarified that administrative warrants of removal are typically issued after an immigration judge enters a final order of removal, following comprehensive removal proceedings where the individual is deemed removable from the U.S. He asserted that ICE officers are authorized to enter an individual's residence with a final order of removal and an accompanying administrative warrant.

ICE concluded its letter by reiterating its firm demand for California to honor detainers, framing it as a critical step to enhance public safety across the state.