Archive · 8 Oct 2026
ICE Expands California Enforcement Operation Ahead of Elections
Immigration officers have started a planned operation in California.
It began near San Diego and is expected to last at least 45 days.
The operation may move north through Los Angeles toward San Francisco.
Sources say officers were told to arrest undocumented immigrants they encounter, even if those people have no criminal record.
California limits how much state and local police can help federal immigration officers.
The operation comes after earlier enforcement actions and protests in Los Angeles.
At the same time, President Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom are arguing over Trump’s remarks about the possibility of Iran attacking California cities.
The White House said Trump was talking about a danger that could have existed if Iran developed nuclear weapons.
ICE began a California operation called Operation Safe California near San Diego several days before the report.
The operation is expected to last at least 45 days and move north through Los Angeles toward San Francisco by November.
Sources told the Washington Examiner officers were instructed to arrest undocumented immigrants they encounter, including people without criminal records.
The operation comes amid disputes over California’s limits on local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and follows earlier enforcement and protests in Los Angeles.
Separately, Gavin Newsom criticized Trump’s comments about possible Iranian attacks on Los Angeles and San Diego; the White House said Trump was discussing the danger Iran could pose.
- Who
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers; the article also describes criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump.
- What
- ICE has begun Operation Safe California, an immigration enforcement operation targeting undocumented immigrants, including those without criminal records, according to sources cited by the Washington Examiner.
- When
- It began several days before the report and is expected to last at least 45 days, reaching San Francisco by November.
- Where
- The operation began in and around San Diego and is expected to move through Los Angeles toward San Francisco.
- Why
- The stated enforcement aim is to arrest undocumented immigrants officers encounter. The article also connects the operation to California’s limits on local cooperation with federal immigration authorities and broader enforcement efforts.
Newsom and California officials
Trump administration and White House
Immigration enforcement
Newsom and California officials
California’s statewide policy limits state and local police assistance to federal immigration enforcement; the article says the operation is taking place amid conflict over that policy.
Trump administration and White House
The Trump administration has criticized such limits as making federal immigration enforcement more difficult; ICE sources said officers were told to arrest undocumented immigrants they encounter.
Trump’s remarks about California cities
Newsom and California officials
Newsom called Trump’s remarks about Los Angeles and San Diego dangerous and ordered the state threat assessment center to monitor whether a foreign actor might interpret them as an invitation to attack.
Trump administration and White House
The White House defended the remarks, saying Trump was referring to the danger U.S. cities could have faced if Iran had developed nuclear weapons; spokesman Steven Cheung called the reaction a “media freakout.”
- Operation name
- Operation Safe California
- Lead agency
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Expected duration
- At least 45 days
- Starting area
- In and around San Diego
- Expected route
- North through Los Angeles, with San Francisco expected to be reached by November
- Targeting described by sources
- Undocumented immigrants encountered by officers, including those without U.S. criminal records
- California policy
- State and local police are generally restricted from assisting federal immigration authorities with enforcement