The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Representatives Tom McClintock (R-CA) and Darrell Issa (R-CA), is investigating sanctuary policies in San Diego and San Francisco that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On June 2, 2026, the committee sent letters to the police departments and sheriff’s offices in both cities requesting information on their respective sanctuary policies.
California state law prohibits law enforcement from complying with ICE detainers, which are requests to hold individuals for federal immigration authorities. San Diego has enacted ordinances that further restrict immigration enforcement, including a requirement for a judicial warrant for federal officials to access non-public city property and a prohibition on county law enforcement assisting ICE with deportations.
The committee members expressed concerns that these policies may endanger local communities, citing a hit-and-run incident involving an undocumented immigrant from Mexico that resulted in the death of an 11-year-old boy. They criticized San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez for rejecting an ICE detainer for the suspect.
In their letters, the lawmakers noted that California's refusal to honor detainers led to the release of 4,561 undocumented individuals with criminal records in one year, including serious offenses.
In San Francisco, the committee is examining the city's policy of not using resources to assist in federal immigration law enforcement. Sheriff Paul Miyamoto has reportedly ignored numerous ICE detainer requests. The committee also raised concerns about an incident where the sheriff's office did not allow federal officials to interview an undocumented immigrant involved in an attack on the husband of Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
The committee has requested documents and communications related to local law enforcement's cooperation with ICE and the number of ICE detainers received and declined over recent years. Responses to the letters are due by June 16, 2026.
