Newsom Claims ICE Cooperation While His State Releases Illegal Alien Felons

Gavin Newsom wants you to believe he’s cooperating with ICE but the numbers, the riots, and his own policies tell a different story.

In a recent interview with Ben Shapiro, the California governor claimed his state “works very directly” with federal immigration authorities and has transferred more violent criminals to ICE than any other state. It was a rare moment of rhetorical sobriety from Newsom, who’s spent years attacking immigration enforcement and protecting illegal aliens under his sanctuary state agenda.

“California has cooperated with more ICE transfers than probably any other state in the country,” Newsom said.

But just months ago, his own press office labeled ICE’s actions as “state-sponsored terrorism” after an ICE agent shot a woman who tried to run him over with her car. This is the same governor who’s blamed President Trump for “rampaging” ICE operations and signed legislation banning ICE agents from wearing masks even amid escalating threats and physical assaults against them.

So which is it? Is Newsom now a border enforcer, or just another political shapeshifter trying to spin sanctuary policies into something they’re not?

Let’s break down the facts:

• California did receive over 13,000 ICE detainer requests from October 2022 to February 2025 but during that time, the state also released at least 29 illegal aliens facing homicide charges or convictions, according to federal sources.

• Despite Newsom's tough talk, local law enforcement across California report being hamstrung by sanctuary city restrictions that prevent communication with ICE.

• In 2025, Los Angeles erupted in anti-ICE riots, complete with torched vehicles, assaults on officers, and property damage topping $30 million. President Trump had to deploy the National Guard to restore order.

• Newsom called that move “inflammatory” and claimed it would “erode public trust” as if letting lawless mobs run wild in the streets somehow builds it.

Even Newsom had to admit during the interview that the criticism of his office’s ICE “terrorism” statement was “fair.” He distanced himself from the far-left’s calls to abolish ICE, but only after years of throwing red meat to radical activists who want open borders and zero enforcement.

And let’s not forget: in September, Newsom signed a bill banning ICE agents from wearing masks, a direct response to leftist outrage over immigration enforcement. At the time, ICE agents were being harassed, threatened, and assaulted, but Newsom chose to expose them further instead of protecting them.

This is the pattern. Newsom talks tough about crime when he's in front of a national audience but governs like an activist back home. He’ll tell Shapiro that he vetoed anti-ICE bills, then sign legislation weakening ICE’s ability to operate safely. He’ll claim to respect the law, while his own state releases violent offenders ICE is trying to deport.

The bottom line? Newsom wants credit for cooperation without the responsibility. He’s trying to walk both sides of the immigration debate appeasing moderates with empty stats while quietly fueling the chaos sanctuary policies create.

Californians and the rest of the country deserve better than a governor who says one thing to the cameras and does the opposite when no one’s watching.

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