(RightwingJournal.com) – ICE’s massive six-day California operation targeting criminal illegal aliens during the holidays exposes how sanctuary state policies protect dangerous predators instead of American families.
Story Highlights
- ICE arrested 118 criminal illegal aliens in California including pedophiles, sex offenders, burglars, and domestic abusers
- Operation targeted sanctuary counties that shield criminals from federal immigration enforcement
- Holiday timing separated families as children returned home to find parents arrested for serious crimes
- Federal officials criticized Governor Newsom’s sanctuary policies for attracting criminal aliens to California
Federal Enforcement Targets Dangerous Criminal Aliens
ICE’s “California Surge” operation removed 118 criminal illegal aliens from California communities between December 26-31, 2025. The six-day enforcement action concentrated on San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, focusing on individuals convicted of serious crimes including sexual offenses against children, burglary, battery, domestic abuse, and driving under the influence. Federal authorities specifically targeted what DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens” threatening public safety.
Sanctuary Policies Enable Criminal Alien Havens
The operation highlighted California’s dangerous sanctuary state policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. McLaughlin criticized these policies, stating that “criminal illegal aliens flock to California because they know Governor Newsom and his fellow sanctuary politicians will allow them to terrorize innocent American families.” This federal enforcement became necessary precisely because state policies prioritize protecting illegal aliens over American public safety, forcing ICE to conduct independent operations.
Concentrated Criminal Activity in Central Coast Communities
Santa Maria emerged as the operation’s epicenter, with 87 detentions occurring in this single community between December 27-30. The geographic concentration demonstrates how criminal illegal aliens cluster in specific areas, creating public safety hazards for law-abiding residents. Federal authorities documented arrests spanning multiple serious crimes, including pedophiles and registered sex offenders whose presence endangered local children and families throughout the holiday season.
Enforcement Success Despite Local Opposition
ICE successfully completed the operation despite predictable opposition from immigrant-rights groups and local officials who prioritize illegal alien protection over community safety. McLaughlin announced continued enforcement actions in 2026, signaling sustained federal commitment to removing criminal aliens regardless of state sanctuary policies. The operation demonstrates how proper immigration enforcement protects American communities when local and state officials refuse to cooperate with federal law.
This enforcement action represents exactly the kind of public safety operation Americans demanded when they voted for immigration enforcement over sanctuary city chaos. Criminal illegal aliens found safe haven in California’s sanctuary policies, but federal authorities proved these protections cannot shield dangerous predators from justice indefinitely.
Sources:
ICE arrests 118 individuals in California Surge operation targeting criminal offenders
More than 100 detained in Central Coast holiday immigration raids
June 2025 Los Angeles protests against mass deportation
