Federal immigration agents recently arrested 118 criminal noncitizens across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in a six-day operation, exposing the critical public safety gaps created by California’s sanctuary state policies. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted “Operation California Surge” from December 26-31, 2025, targeting individuals with serious conviction histories, including sex offenders and serial drunk drivers, whom state authorities had refused to turn over for deportation. DHS officials are directly criticizing Governor Newsom’s administration, arguing that the California Values Act enables dangerous criminals to remain in communities, prompting a continued federal effort to enforce immigration law in the state.
Story Highlights
- ICE arrested 118 criminal noncitizens including pedophiles, sex offenders, and serial drunk drivers in six-day California operation
- All arrestees had prior convictions for serious crimes like domestic violence, burglary, and lewd acts with children
- Operation targeted sanctuary state California where Governor Newsom refuses ICE detainer requests
- DHS officials blame California’s policies for enabling criminals to “terrorize” communities
ICE Removes Dangerous Criminals From Sanctuary Counties
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted Operation “California Surge” from December 26-31, 2025, across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The six-day enforcement action resulted in 118 arrests of criminal noncitizens with serious conviction histories. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin announced the results on January 5, 2026, emphasizing the operation targeted “the worst of the worst” criminals protected by California’s sanctuary policies.
The arrested individuals included Mexican nationals with extensive criminal records. Among those detained were Anatolio Clavijo-Urbano for burglary, Victor Alfonso Graciano-Quiterio with multiple domestic violence convictions, and Juan Perez Tello for lewd acts with a child. Raymundo Bojorges Mendez faced four DUI charges, while Julio Cesar Tadeo Lopez was convicted of DUI causing injury. These cases demonstrate the serious nature of crimes committed by individuals California refused to turn over to federal authorities.
🚨ARRESTED🚨
During an operation ICE agents in the Los Angeles area apprehended 118 illegal aliens in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Some of these aliens were child sex offenders, registered sexual predators, burglars, domestic violence perpetrators, and repeat DUI… pic.twitter.com/r2qc2kQbK3
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) January 5, 2026
Sanctuary Policies Enable Criminal Recidivism
California’s sanctuary state status under the 2017 California Values Act limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. This policy framework prevents local authorities from honoring ICE detainer requests, allowing criminal noncitizens to remain in communities after serving sentences. Recent deadly incidents underscore these policy failures, including Hector Balderas-Aheelor killing 11-year-old Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz in Escondido after a detainer was ignored.
McLaughlin directly criticized Governor Newsom’s administration, stating that “criminal illegal aliens flock to California because they know Governor Newsom will allow them to terrorize” communities. The DHS official emphasized that federal law enforcement would continue operations in 2026 to “make California safe again.” This represents a clear federal challenge to state sanctuary policies that prioritize protecting criminal noncitizens over public safety.
Operation Exposes Broader Immigration Crisis
The Central Coast operation mirrors similar ICE enforcement actions across California, including 232 arrests in Northern California and 212 in Los Angeles during 2018. Recent Ventura County raids in July 2025 also highlighted ongoing federal-state tensions over immigration enforcement. These operations consistently occur in sanctuary jurisdictions where local officials refuse cooperation with ICE detainer requests, forcing federal agents to conduct more complex enforcement actions.
The timing of the operation during the holiday period from December 26-31 demonstrates ICE’s commitment to removing dangerous criminals regardless of local political opposition. Peak arrests occurred on December 30, with raids targeting homes, job sites, and businesses across Santa Maria, Lompoc, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. This comprehensive approach ensures criminals cannot evade federal enforcement through sanctuary protections that undermine public safety and the rule of law.
Watch the report: Community leaders hold press conference to bring attention to recent ICE actions
Sources:
- ICE Arrests 118 Illegal Aliens Including Pedophiles, Burglars, Domestic Abusers, and Serial Drunk Drivers in California Surge Operation | Homeland Security
- 118 detained in holiday immigration raids across Central Coast, all criminals, DHS claims
