DHS Blasts California Sanctuary Politicians for Releasing Nearly 24,000 Criminal Illegal Alien Murderers, Child Abusers, Kidnappers, and Gang Members from Jail Back onto the Street

Instead of turning these criminal illegal aliens over to ICE, California sanctuary politicians choose to release them from jail to create more innocent American victims

WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement condemning sanctuary politicians in the state of California for refusing to honor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers against dangerous illegal aliens in state and local custody, releasing illegals back into California communities despite criminal histories that include murder, cruelty to a child, and kidnapping.

Since January 20, 2025, California has released nearly 24,000 criminal illegal aliens from jail back into American communities. There are more than 81,000 criminal charges or convictions associated with these non-honored detainers, including:

169 homicides
147 sexual assaults
1,088 drug trafficking charges
1,097 assaults
3,295 burglaries

“Governor Gavin Newsom and his cronies in California have turned the Golden State into a hotbed of illegal alien crime. Sanctuary politicians have not only refused to cooperate with federal law enforcement to target and arrest the worst of the worst – but they’ve released nearly 24,000 criminal illegal aliens onto the streets of California to terrorize innocent Americans,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “California sanctuary politicians have repeatedly chosen to ignore ICE detainers for illegal aliens in their custody, and released murderers, child abusers, kidnappers, and gang members back onto the street. Newsom and his fellow sanctuary politicians may continue trying to harbor illegal alien murderers and child abusers, but the Trump Administration will always put the American people first.”

Among the worst illegal aliens in California’s custody with ICE detainers that have been refused are:

Ursulo Montenegro Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico, whose criminal history includes convictions for homicide – negligent manslaughter with a weapon, possession of a narcotic controlled substance, transport/sell narcotics/controlled substance, and illegal entry. Although ICE lodged a detainer on June 23, 2025, Los Angeles County sanctuary politicians refused to honor the detainer and RELEASED him.

Taron Gorgoyan, an illegal alien from Armenia, whose criminal history includes convictions for voluntary manslaughter, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, identity theft, and disturbing the peace. Although ICE lodged a detainer on March 6, 2026, Los Angeles County sanctuary politicians refused to honor the detainer and RELEASED him.

Salvador Jesus Serpas-Hernandez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and Rebels 13 gang member, whose criminal history includes convictions for murder, cruelty to a child: possible injury/death, battery on non-cohabitant former spouse, and exhibiting a deadly weapon. Although ICE lodged a detainer on April 1, 2026, Los Angeles County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Noe Silva-Cervantes, an illegal alien from Mexico and Inglewood 13 gang member, whose criminal history includes convictions for attempted murder, robbery, and grand theft. Although ICE lodged a detainer on April 9, 2025, Los Angeles County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Javier Balbuena Fernandez, an illegal alien from Cuba, whose criminal history includes convictions for second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to cause great bodily harm. Although ICE lodged a detainer on April 22, 2025, Los Angeles County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Carlos Alberto Amaya-Velasquez, an illegal alien from El Salvador, whose criminal history includes convictions for felony accessory after the fact and receiving known stolen property, and arrests for attempted murder, vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, obstructing a public officer, evading a peace officer, and carrying a loaded firearm in public. Although ICE lodged a detainer on May 14, 2026, San Francisco County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Samuel Darling Cruz Florino, an illegal alien from Mexico, whose criminal history includes convictions for voluntary manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, and prisoner in possession of a weapon. Although ICE lodged a detainer on June 1, 2026, Sacramento County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Ahmed Elgehmbri, an illegal alien from Libya, whose criminal history includes convictions for attempted murder, assault with firearm on person, discharge firearm from vehicle, shooting at inhabited dwelling/vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place. Although ICE lodged a detainer on April 22, 2026, Amador County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Jose Perez Chaparro-Chaparra, an illegal alien from Mexico, whose criminal history includes a conviction for illegal entry and arrests for homicide, aggravated assault with a gun, firing weapon, conspiracy to commit battery, possession of controlled substance, driving while under the influence, and driving without a license. Although ICE lodged a detainer on March 16, 2026, Contra Costa County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Wilber Ismael Ortez-Ramos, an illegal alien from El Salvador, whose criminal history includes arrests for murder, cruelty to child: possible injury or death, and mayhem. Although ICE lodged a detainer on June 3, 2026, San Mateo County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED him.

Under Governor Newsom, California has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime. Some of the recent illegal alien crimes in the sanctuary state include:

In September, ICE lodged a detainer for Chamkaur Singh, an illegal alien from India, after his arrest for causing a semi-truck crash that killed two people in Ontario, California. He had been granted a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) by Gavin Newsom’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
In July, ICE lodged a detainer for Gokhan Bagci, an illegal alien from Turkey, after his arrest for sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl at a daycare in Sacramento, California.
In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Joaquin Escoto Vazquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, after his arrest for fatally stabbing two women and a baby in Modesto, California.
In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Manvir Singh, an illegal alien from India, after he was arrested for causing a semi-truck crash that killed two people near Lodi, California.
In May, ICE arrested Aman Kumar, an illegal alien from India, who had been released by sanctuary politicians in California after causing a hit-and-run accident that injured a 4-year-old boy in Fresno, California.
In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Wilfredo Jose Tortolero-Arriechi, an illegal alien from Venezuela, after he had been arrested for fatally stabbing a social worker in a hospital in San Francisco, California.
In April, ICE arrested David Antonio Aviles Perez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and MS-13 member, in San Diego, California, who has an international warrant for aggravated murder and had previously been arrested in California for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and petty theft.
In February, Governor Newsom pardoned Somboon Phaymany, an illegal alien from Cambodia who had been convicted for attempted murder and assault with a firearm.
In January, ICE lodged a detainer for Enrique Bautista Vasquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, after he had been arrested for raping an autistic girl in Cathedral City, California.
In December 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Brayan Alva-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he had been arrested for causing a drunk driving crash that killed an 8-year-old girl in San Diego, California.
In December 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Hector Balderas-Aheelor, an illegal alien from Mexico who had been previously deported FOUR times, after he was arrested for causing a felony hit-and-run accident that killed an 11-year-old boy on Thanksgiving morning.
In November 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Humberto Munoz-Gatica, an illegal alien from Mexico, after he was arrested for driving under the influence and hit-and-run following a fatal crash that killed a 71-year-old man in Orange County, California.
In October 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Beto Cerillo-Bialva, an illegal alien from Mexico, after he was arrested for murder following a drunk-driving crash that killed six people in Napa County, California.
In June 2025, ICE arrested Cuong Chanh Phan, an illegal alien from Vietnam, who had been convicted of second-degree murder for his involvement in a mass shooting in 1994 that killed two teenagers and injured seven others at a graduation party in San Marino, California.
In June 2024, Partap Singh, an illegal alien from India, caused a multi-car pileup while driving an 18-wheeler recklessly in San Bernardino, California, after he had been given a CDL by Newsom’s DMV. The crash seriously injured 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman and several others.

In addition to the crimes committed by illegal aliens in California, Governor Newsom’s sanctuary policies have had disastrous consequences in other states as well. These include:

In September, ICE lodged a detainer for Manjit Singh, an illegal alien from India, who was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after causing a semi-truck crash that killed a woman in Brown County, Ohio. He had been granted a CDL by Newsom’s California
In July, ICE lodged a detainer for Axel Eduardo Chavez-Marroquin, an illegal alien from El Salvador, after he was arrested for murdering a veteran in Utah. He had twice been arrested in California for domestic violence – in Santa Ana in 2024, and then in Laguna Niguel in 2025 – but despite ICE lodging detainers against him both times, California sanctuary politicians released him from jail and back into the community.
In January, ICE lodged detainers for Gunpreet Singh and Jasveer Singh, criminal illegal aliens from India, after they had been arrested for smuggling more than 300 pounds of cocaine in a semi-truck in Putnam County, Indiana. Governor Newsom’s DMV had given both men CDLs.
In December 2025, ICE arrested Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto, an illegal alien from Honduras and MS-13 member who is wanted in his home country for a quadruple homicide, in Grand Island, Nebraska. He had been given a driver’s license by Newsom’s DMV.
In November 2025, Rajinder Kumar, an illegal alien from India who had been given a CDL by Newsom’s DMV, jackknifed his semi-truck and trailer on a highway in Deschutes County, Oregon, killing a newlywed couple. ICE arrested Kumar in April 2026.
In August 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Harjinder Singh, an illegal alien from India, after he made an illegal U-turn in his semi-truck and killed three people in St. Lucie County, Florida. Singh had obtained his CDL in Newsom’s California.

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