Federal immigration officials said California has released more than 4,500 illegal aliens into local communities since President Donald Trump took office, rather than transferring them to federal custody. Officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement said California’s sanctuary state law prevented federal agents from taking custody of 4,561 illegal aliens between Jan. 20, 2025, and Friday, Breitbart News reported.
ICE said several of the individuals released had prior convictions or arrests for violent crimes, including murder and sex offenses involving children.
Among those cited by ICE was Carmelo Corado Hurtado, an illegal alien from Guatemala convicted of first-degree murder, drunk driving, and second-degree robbery.
ICE said a detainer was lodged against Hurtado, but California officials declined to honor it, leading to his release from custody.
Federal agents later arrested Hurtado in the community and deported him from the United States, according to ICE.
ICE also identified Hector Grijalba-Sernas, an illegal alien from Mexico, arrested for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14.
The agency also said an immigration detainer lodged against Grijalba-Sernas in September 2024 was not honored, and he was released.
Agents later arrested him in May 2025, and he is currently in federal custody with an active immigration detainer.
Another case cited involved Xujin An, an illegal alien from China arrested in Westminster, California, for sexual penetration with force and sexual battery.
ICE said An was released after a detainer was not honored in November 2024 and was later arrested by federal agents in April 2025, where he remains in custody pending court proceedings.
The immigration enforcement agency also named Angel Navarro Camarillo, an illegal alien from Mexico and alleged member of the La Familia street gang, who was arrested for a sex offender registration violation.
Federal officials said Navarro Camarillo was released after a detainer was not honored and was later arrested by ICE in July 2025 and removed from the country.
According to ICE, Vicente Centeno-Lugo, an illegal alien from Mexico, has a criminal history spanning nearly three decades that includes convictions for willful cruelty to a child, drug offenses, and evading law enforcement.
ICE said Santa Clara County Jail declined to honor multiple detainers over the years and repeatedly released Centeno-Lugo back into the community.
Officials with DHS also cited Raphael Arturovich Gevorgyan, an illegal alien from Armenia and alleged member of the Armenian Power gang, convicted of voluntary manslaughter and other violent crimes.
Gevorgyan was released after a detainer was not honored in November 2025 and was arrested by ICE the following day, where he remains in custody pending removal proceedings.
Another case involved Victor Hernandez-Jiron, an illegal alien from El Salvador arrested for attempted murder and multiple domestic violence-related offenses.
ICE said Hernandez-Jiron was released after a detainer was rejected and was later apprehended by federal agents in November 2025.
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The agency also identified Monica Gonzalez-Riedel, an illegal alien from Mexico, arrested for willful cruelty to a child and assault with a deadly weapon.
Officials noted further that local authorities rejected a detainer lodged in March 2025 and released Gonzalez-Riedel into the community.
Another individual cited was Sara Hassanzadeh, an illegal alien from Iran arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery on a former spouse.
ICE said Hassanzadeh was released after a detainer was rejected by local authorities.
ICE also named Elvin Joel Centeno Verde, an illegal alien from Hondura,s convicted of obstruction of police and repeatedly arrested for drug trafficking offenses.
ICE said Centeno Verde was later apprehended and removed from the United States.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons has urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta to honor ICE detainers for more than 33,000 illegal aliens currently held in state or local custody across California.
“Governor Newsom and his fellow California sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, pedophiles, and drug traffickers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk,” the Department of Homeland Security’s Tricia McLaughlin said.
