California Gov. Gavin Newsom Sr. dismissed the claim Trump His state plans to release more than 33,000 undocumented criminals from its prisons.
On Friday, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted on X that “California is poised to release 33,000 criminal illegal aliens.”
Miller’s post suggested a press release Todd Lyons, Acting Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta to honor those arrested for 33,000 undocumented immigrants.
“Criminal illegal aliens must not be released from prisons back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans. If we work together, we can make America safe again. 7 of the 10 safest cities in the US cooperate with ICE law enforcement,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Newsom’s office He quickly explained Accusing the Trump administration of trying to “distract” the president by posting a racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama, the California prison system has long complied with such requests.
“California will cooperate with ICE in removing sick rapists and murderers from our state prisons,” the governor’s office wrote in X.
The California prison system, managed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), cooperates with ICE in limited circumstances. Under state law, CDCR can notify ICE and transfer custody of individuals with certain serious or violent felony convictions when they complete their sentences. Typically, when someone’s release date approaches, CDCR contacts ICE to determine if the agency wants to take custody. If the individual is a non-citizen and has not been issued an ICE detainer, CDCR will still notify federal immigration officials prior to the detainer’s release.
Most recent data Data from the CDCR shows that in 2025, ICE issued detainers while more than 88% of individuals were in state prison.
Although California hands over long-sentenced criminals to ICE, California state law severely restricts any cooperation between federal immigration enforcement and county jails that house people who have not yet been convicted.
Access to prisons has long been a goal of Trump officials seeking to increase deportation numbers. In Minnesota, for example, the president’s border czar Tom Homan has routinely pushed sheriffs to move people from jails to federal custody during an ongoing immigration crackdown. Homan said this week more counties are pledging to work with the agency because state law allows sheriffs to determine the level of cooperation.
State prisons or jails are not allowed to hold someone past their scheduled release date – a common question for federal immigration agents.
It’s not clear what source the administration is using to say there are more than 33,000 undocumented felons in California prisons. In 2025, CDCR recorded only 1,641 ICE detainers among more than 26,000 released from custody.
Shrai Popat contributed reporting
