In a major shift, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has resumed transferring illegal immigrant inmates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite years of adherence to sanctuary policies that previously blocked such cooperation. The move marks the first time in years that LA County has handed over inmates to ICE, with transfers occurring in both May and June of this year.
According to law enforcement records, eight inmates were transferred in May and more than a dozen in June. Of those, 11 were from Mexico, 6 from Guatemala, and one each from Colombia, El Salvador, and Honduras. The individuals ranged in age from 19 to 63.
This return to federal cooperation comes after a four-year pause. In 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first term, 457 illegal immigrant inmates were transferred to ICE from LA County. That number dropped to zero under the Biden administration, as sanctuary policies were strictly enforced. However, all recent transfers under the new policy shift have reportedly been conducted in compliance with federal and state law through the use of judicial warrants.
One exception was a transfer that occurred through a specific agreement involving the Department of Homeland Security, the LA County District Attorney, and the Sheriff’s Office. That individual was extradited to face criminal charges in the United States.
LA County Inspector General Max Huntsman stated that despite the region’s sanctuary status, the transfers do not violate California law. “We are unaware of any conflict between California and federal law on this requirement,” he said, referring to judicially approved warrants. The Sheriff’s Department also confirmed that such cooperation is legally allowed when a judicial warrant is obtained.
The development highlights a shift toward reestablishing local-federal cooperation on immigration enforcement—an approach championed during President Trump’s first term. It also underscores the limitations of so-called sanctuary policies when judicial processes are properly followed.
With federal immigration laws still on the books and judicial warrants offering a legal pathway for ICE cooperation, LA County’s return to enforcement raises the question of whether other liberal jurisdictions may follow suit under mounting public safety concerns.
