Riverside County Sheriff's Office Transferred 43 People To ICE Custody Last Year

The department has transferred custody of 87 people to ICE since 2020, according to data obtained by The Riverside Record.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:15pm

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The Riverside County Sheriff's Office (RSO) transferred custody of 43 people to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last year, a sharp increase from 2024 when the department transferred custody of 13 people. Since 2020, the department has transferred custody of 87 people to ICE, according to data obtained by The Riverside Record.

Why it matters

The California Values Act prohibits law enforcement agencies from investigating, interrogating, detaining or arresting people for immigration enforcement purposes, though it does allow agencies discretion to cooperate with immigration authorities as long as doing so would not violate any federal, state or local law or policy. This case highlights the ongoing tension between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

The details

The department said the number of inmates transferred 'solely depends on the number of requests from ICE' and that RSO 'complies with the law' and honors requests for transfer if accompanied by a detainer, warrant or probable cause statement approved by a federal judge. The department also said it 'does not perform investigative measures to determine immigration status' and that roughly 60,000 inmates are booked into the county's jails annually.

  • In 2024, the department transferred custody of 13 people to ICE.
  • In 2025, the department transferred custody of 43 people to ICE.
  • Since 2020, the department has transferred custody of 87 people to ICE.

The players

Riverside County Sheriff's Office (RSO)

The law enforcement agency that transferred custody of 43 people to ICE in 2025 and a total of 87 people since 2020.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that requested custody of the 43 people transferred by the Riverside County Sheriff's Office in 2025.

Lt. Deirdre Vickers

The public information officer for the Riverside County Sheriff's Office who stated that the department 'complies with the law' and honors requests for transfer if accompanied by proper documentation.

Correctional Chief Deputy Misha Graves

The Riverside County official who stated at a community forum that ICE initiates all requests for inmate interviews and transfers, and that the department informs inmates of their voluntary participation.

Mike Villalba

The Assistant Division Director of the Riverside County Probation Department who reported that the department supervised more than 17,000 clients from October 2024 to October 2025.

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What they’re saying

“The number of inmates transferred solely depends on the number of requests from ICE. I can hypothesize a few reasons why the number varies, but RSO does not influence nor determine the number of transfers.”

— Lt. Deirdre Vickers, Public Information Officer, Riverside County Sheriff's Office

“RSO does not perform investigative measures to determine immigration status.”

— Lt. Deirdre Vickers, Public Information Officer, Riverside County Sheriff's Office

“What happens is, ICE will request to interview an inmate. Our staff will then reach out to the inmate, we inform them of the ICE request and we also inform them that the participation on their behalf is purely voluntary, and if they consent, then we facilitate the interview.”

— Correctional Chief Deputy Misha Graves

What’s next

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is expected to hold a public forum in December 2026 to discuss the department's cooperation with ICE and compliance with the California Values Act.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, as well as the need for greater transparency and accountability around the transfer of individuals to ICE custody, especially in light of California's sanctuary state laws.