THE FOLLOW UP
STATEMENT

ICE reports 4,561 criminal noncitizens released from California jails since January 20, with listed crime counts

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Verification from ICE and/or California local jurisdictions that 4,561 individuals with ICE detainers were released since January 20 and that the listed crime-category counts match official records.

Source summary
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (ICE) says California jurisdictions have not honored ICE arrest detainers and that 4,561 noncitizens described by ICE as criminal "illegal aliens" were released from county jails since January 20. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta urging state cooperation, and ICE reports 33,179 individuals in California custody with active detainers and lists counts of alleged crimes. The release includes named cases where local authorities did not honor detainers; some individuals were later arrested and removed by ICE.
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Latest fact check

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security / ICE published a press release on Feb. 5, 2026 stating that "California’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 4,561 criminal illegal aliens since January 20" and listing the same breakdown (31 homicides, 661 assaults, 574 burglaries, 184 robberies, 1,489 dangerous drugs offenses, 379 weapons offenses, and 234 sexual predatory offenses). The figures are presented by ICE in its official DHS press release and attributed to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons’ letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Verdict: True — ICE (DHS) did make this claim and published these exact numbers in its Feb. 5, 2026 press release.

Sources

Timeline

  1. Update · Feb 05, 2026, 10:16 PMTrue
    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security / ICE published a press release on Feb. 5, 2026 stating that "California’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 4,561 criminal illegal aliens since January 20" and listing the same breakdown (31 homicides, 661 assaults, 574 burglaries, 184 robberies, 1,489 dangerous drugs offenses, 379 weapons offenses, and 234 sexual predatory offenses). The figures are presented by ICE in its official DHS press release and attributed to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons’ letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Verdict: True — ICE (DHS) did make this claim and published these exact numbers in its Feb. 5, 2026 press release.
  2. Original article · Feb 05, 2026
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