ICE's New Tactic to Bypass California Sanctuary Policies

Operation Guardian Angel Launched

• 🎯 A new federal task force, Operation Guardian Angel, has been established in Los Angeles to circumvent sanctuary policies.
• ⚖️ This operation aims to target undocumented immigrants with prior deportation orders who are re-arrested for new crimes.
• 🤝 The task force comprises agents from HSI, ICE, ATF, FBI, and DEA, operating out of downtown LA.

Bypassing Sanctuary Laws

• 🔍 The task force scans criminal databases daily to identify previously deported individuals in local jails.
• 🚨 When an individual flagged for prior deportation is arrested for a new crime (like illegal re-entry, a federal felony), a federal judicial warrant is immediately placed on them.
• 🚫 Unlike ICE detainers, local jails, even those with sanctuary policies, cannot ignore a federal criminal arrest warrant.

Jail Operations and Reactions

• ⛓️ In one instance, ICE agents entered Twin Towers Jail, a sanctuary facility, and took custody of a Mexican national arrested for robbery who had been previously deported.
• 👍 LA County Sheriff's deputies reportedly expressed relief and excitement about ICE's return to the jail, asking how they were getting around the sanctuary policy.

Immigration Statistics and Border Situation

• 🌍 The US Attorney for the central district of California estimates there are 1.5 million people in the US illegally within his jurisdiction alone.
• 📈 Tens of thousands of these individuals have previous deportation orders.
• 📉 The task force anticipates apprehending 40-5 such individuals from jails each week.
• 🛂 Recent border crossing numbers have significantly decreased, with daily crossings dropping from 11,000 in December 2023 to about 240 currently.

Political Commentary on Immigration

• 🗣️ The discussion briefly touches on internal Democratic party politics and a new book criticizing figures like Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Xavier Becerra regarding immigration policy.
• 🗳️ Immigration is highlighted as a significant issue for Kamala Harris's potential future political campaigns.