ICE Director Lyons Vows Increased Raids in Sanctuary Cities, Praises California’s Limited Cooperation
Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, has issued a strong warning to sanctuary cities across the nation, stating that the agency will significantly increase enforcement operations within their jurisdictions if they continue to obstruct federal immigration law enforcement efforts. Lyons’ remarks underscore the ongoing tension between the federal government and localities that have adopted sanctuary policies designed to limit their cooperation with ICE.
In an exclusive interview, Lyons articulated a firm stance on the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, emphasizing that ICE agents will aggressively pursue criminal illegal immigrants, irrespective of sanctuary city policies. He conveyed a sense of frustration with jurisdictions that refuse to collaborate with ICE, promising a substantial escalation of enforcement activities in those areas. "The more they’re going to double down or triple down, we’re going to ramp it up more," Lyons declared, signaling a direct correlation between non-cooperation and increased ICE presence.
Lyons clarified that ICE prefers a collaborative relationship with local authorities but asserted that the agency will not be deterred from fulfilling its mission of removing public safety threats, even in the absence of local assistance. "We want to work with you, but if you don’t want to work with the federal government, if you don’t want to work with ICE, then we’re going to make sure that we’re doing all we can do to bring our law enforcement resources to that jurisdiction. And we’re going to take care of those public safety threats," he stated, underscoring the agency’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws nationwide. The acting director reiterated this point, stating, "If you don’t want to work with us, we’re going to handle the problem."
Despite his tough rhetoric towards uncooperative jurisdictions, Lyons offered praise for California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent indication that the state would be willing to work with ICE under certain circumstances. California, widely recognized as a sanctuary state, generally limits cooperation with immigration authorities. However, Newsom signaled a potential shift, stating that the state would consider honoring detainer requests in specific cases. This shift followed public outcry over a case involving an illegal immigrant convicted of vehicular manslaughter who is slated for release from prison well before the completion of his full sentence.
Lyons lauded Newsom’s willingness to cooperate in such instances, stating, "I really applaud the governor for that. When people see exactly the individual that ICE is dealing with, how could you not work with ICE in a case like that? We actually saw the details behind this case. It’s a commonsense approach to work with ICE to get these public safety threats out of here." Lyons believes that heightened public awareness regarding the nature of individuals ICE targets can foster greater cooperation between federal and local entities.
Highlighting the agency’s recent activities, Lyons noted that ICE arrested more than 6,000 illegal immigrants in the first 100 days of the Trump administration. He further emphasized that the agency will continue to prioritize the removal of the "worst of the worst," focusing on individuals who pose significant threats to public safety. "How can anyone argue with you when you’re deporting violent gang members, sex offenders, and fentanyl traffickers?" Lyons questioned, emphasizing the agency’s role in safeguarding communities. "ICE is out there protecting communities, taking these public safety threats away from our neighborhoods, protecting our children."
Lyons also addressed the potential impact of increased funding for ICE, specifically mentioning a congressional proposal to allocate funds for 10,000 additional agents. He described such an allocation as a "game changer," providing the agency with the resources to more effectively target and remove criminal illegal immigrants. He cited an operation in Boston as an example, where targeted enforcement focused on criminal aliens released from jails and courts in sanctuary jurisdictions. However, Lyons noted that even as these operations were underway, more criminal aliens were being released, highlighting the ongoing challenge posed by uncooperative jurisdictions.
The comments from Director Lyons reflect the continued commitment of the Trump administration to enforcing immigration laws and prioritizing the removal of criminal illegal immigrants. His statements serve as a clear warning to sanctuary cities that refuse to collaborate with federal authorities, indicating that ICE will intensify its enforcement efforts within their borders. While Lyons expressed a preference for collaboration, he made it unequivocally clear that the agency will act independently to address public safety concerns, regardless of local policies. The situation in California, marked by Governor Newsom’s limited willingness to cooperate, demonstrates the complex and evolving dynamics between the federal government and sanctuary jurisdictions, as both entities navigate the challenges of immigration enforcement and public safety. The potential allocation of additional funding for ICE underscores the administration’s commitment to strengthening immigration enforcement capabilities and expanding the agency’s reach across the nation.
