U.S. Warns Sanctuary States to Aid Deportation of Criminal Immigrants – 20 September 2025
On 20 September 2025, Homeland Security urged California, New York, and Illinois to help ICE deport undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions, citing public safety concerns.
Raja Awais Ali
9/20/20251 min read
U.S. Warns Sanctuary States to Cooperate in Deporting Criminal Immigrants
On 20 September 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a strong warning to so-called “sanctuary states,” including California, New York, and Illinois, demanding that they assist federal authorities in deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions. The department emphasized that these states must promptly inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) whenever such individuals are released from local prisons so they can be transferred for deportation.
Federal officials argue that sanctuary policies, combined with cashless bail systems, allow offenders with serious criminal records to reenter communities rather than being turned over to ICE after serving their sentences. Homeland Security leaders stated that this practice undermines public safety and hinders the enforcement of national immigration law.
Since the start of the current administration, immigration enforcement has intensified significantly. Government data show that hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants have been detained in 2025, and a large percentage of those arrested have faced criminal charges or convictions. Homeland Security signaled that, if cooperation does not improve, the Department of Justice and other federal agencies may adopt stronger measures to compel compliance.
This confrontation highlights growing tension between federal immigration priorities and state-level sanctuary policies. Local governments argue that their policies protect communities and foster trust between immigrants and law enforcement, while federal authorities insist that states have a duty to help remove dangerous individuals who pose risks to public safety.
The latest warning underscores the administration’s determination to enforce immigration laws aggressively and to deport undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. Observers expect further legal and political debate as both federal and state leaders defend their respective positions on immigration policy and public security.