Sanctuary Cities Shielded Nearly 18,000 Criminal Illegal Aliens from ICE in 2025

Outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem revealed sanctuary jurisdictions refused to honor thousands of ICE detainers last year.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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According to outgoing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States refused to honor nearly 18,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers on criminal illegal aliens in their jails in 2025. This highlights the ongoing conflict between local sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Why it matters

The high number of detainers that were ignored by sanctuary cities underscores the tension between state/local policies aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants and the federal government's efforts to deport those with criminal records. This issue has led to high-profile cases where illegal aliens accused of violent crimes were released back into communities due to sanctuary policies.

The details

ICE detainers are requests to local law enforcement that federal agents be notified when an illegal alien is to be released from custody, allowing ICE to arrest them. However, sanctuary jurisdictions often refuse to honor these detainers, shielding illegal aliens from deportation. The most recent example involves 32-year-old illegal alien Abdul Jalloh of Sierra Leone, who is accused of murdering a woman in Fairfax County, Virginia, despite having over 40 prior arrests that local prosecutors repeatedly dropped.

  • In 2025, sanctuary jurisdictions refused to honor 17,864 ICE detainers on criminal illegal aliens.

The players

Kristi Noem

The outgoing Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security who revealed the high number of ICE detainers that were ignored by sanctuary cities.

Abdul Jalloh

A 32-year-old illegal alien from Sierra Leone who is accused of murdering a woman in Fairfax County, Virginia, despite having over 40 prior arrests that local prosecutors repeatedly dropped.

Stephanie Minter

A 41-year-old mother who was allegedly murdered by Abdul Jalloh in a random attack at a Fairfax County, Virginia bus stop.

Steve Descano

The Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney who repeatedly dropped charges against Abdul Jalloh despite warnings about his criminal history.

Abigail Spanberger

The Democratic governor of Virginia who has suggested she will not honor an active ICE detainer on Abdul Jalloh unless agents secure a judicial warrant.

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What they’re saying

“DHS should request a signed judicial warrant to ensure this violent criminal is deported.”

— Spokesperson for Gov. Abigail Spanberger's office (Nick Minock)

“As we have repeatedly said: The state coordinates with ICE on the deportation of convicted criminals. California honors federal criminal warrants. Nothing prohibits the federal government from doing its job in this case.”

— Spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom's office (Nick Minock)

What’s next

The judge in Abdul Jalloh's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing conflict between sanctuary city policies aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants and federal immigration enforcement efforts, which has led to the release of dangerous criminal illegal aliens back into communities. It raises questions about the balance between public safety and immigration policies.