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The Department of Homeland Security has blasted California’s sanctuary policies, claiming the state released nearly 24,000 undocumented immigrants from jail since January 2025 rather than handing them over to ICE.
DHS said the cases involved more than 81,000 criminal charges or convictions, including 169 homicides, 147 sexual assaults, 1,097 assaults and 3,295 burglaries.
“Governor Gavin Newsom and his cronies in California have turned the Golden State into a hotbed of illegal alien crime,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
He added that sanctuary politicians have not only refused to cooperate with law enforcement and “released murderers, child abusers, kidnappers, and gang members back onto the street.”
Among the cases DHS highlighted as the most serious were five people it said Los Angeles County released despite ICE detainers.
Ursulo Montenegro Martinez of Mexico was convicted of negligent manslaughter with a weapon, along with drug and illegal entry offenses, DHS said. ICE asked the county to hold him on Jun. 23, 2025. He was released instead.
Taron Gorgoyan, an Armenian national, was released after ICE issued a detainer on Mar. 6, 2026, according to the department. His record includes voluntary manslaughter, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, identity theft and disturbing the peace.
The county also freed Salvador Jesus Serpas-Hernandez, a Salvadoran citizen DHS described as a member of the Rebels 13 gang. DHS said his convictions include murder, cruelty to a child and battery on a former spouse, and that ICE had lodged its request on Apr. 1, 2026.
In another case, Mexico’s Noe Silva-Cervantes, an alleged Inglewood 13 gang member, left custody despite an Apr. 9, 2025, detainer, DHS said. He was previously convicted of attempted murder, robbery and grand theft.
Javier Balbuena Fernandez, a Cuban national convicted of second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon, was released after an Apr. 22, 2025, request, the agency said.
Farther north, San Francisco County let Carlos Alberto Amaya-Velasquez of Salvador go free after ICE asked for his transfer on May 14, 2026, DHS said.
The Salvadoran national has a felony conviction for accessory after the fact. The department also said he has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, vehicle theft, evading police and carrying a loaded gun in public.
Sacramento County’s release of Samuel Darling Cruz Florino came despite an ICE detainer filed Jun. 1, 2026, according to the department. The Mexican citizen has prior convictions for voluntary manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and having a weapon while in prison.
In Amador County, Ahmed Elgehmbri, a Libyan national, walked free after ICE lodged a detainer on Apr. 22, 2026. DHS said his record includes convictions for attempted murder, assault with a gun, shooting from a car, shooting at an occupied home or car, and carrying a loaded gun in public.
Wilber Ismael Ortez-Ramos from El Salvador was previously arrested for murder, child cruelty, and mayhem but San Mateo County authorities released him despite an ICE detainer issued on June 3, 2026, DHS said.
