Federal scrutiny is intensifying for two of California’s largest sanctuary jurisdictions as House Republicans launch investigations into immigration enforcement policies in San Francisco and San Diego. The inquiries, announced through a series of letters sent Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee, signal a new phase in the Trump administration’s ongoing confrontation with sanctuary cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, joined by California Republicans Tom McClintock and Darrell Issa, is demanding extensive records from police and sheriff’s departments in both cities. Lawmakers argue that local policies have obstructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts and contributed to the release of criminal migrants who later remained in American communities.
San Francisco appears to be receiving the most intense attention. The city has been a symbol of sanctuary policies for decades, tracing its formal sanctuary ordinance back to 1989. In a sharply worded letter to San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew, lawmakers accused the department of failing to cooperate with ICE detainer requests involving criminal migrants and requested records dating back to January 2024.
According to the committee, the city’s policies have created situations in which individuals sought by federal immigration authorities are released from custody rather than transferred for potential deportation proceedings. Lawmakers argued that such practices increase public safety risks by allowing offenders to remain in local communities.
An even more direct challenge was aimed at San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. The committee cited previous remarks in which Miyamoto reportedly stated that his office had honored only one ICE detention request out of thousands received. Republicans argued that such policies effectively prevent federal authorities from carrying out immigration enforcement duties.
The letter also referenced the case of David DePape, the Canadian national convicted in connection with the 2022 attack on Paul Pelosi. Lawmakers questioned whether local officials impeded federal access during the investigation and cited the case as an example of broader concerns surrounding sanctuary policies.
Congressional investigators are seeking extensive documentation from the sheriff’s office, including internal policies governing ICE cooperation, communications regarding non-citizens, and records of immigration detainer requests dating back to 2020.
The inquiry extends beyond law enforcement agencies themselves. Both San Francisco officials were instructed to provide immigration-related communications involving Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office. Lurie reportedly held discussions with President Donald Trump in late 2025 that helped avert the deployment of National Guard troops to the Bay Area following tensions over immigration enforcement elsewhere in California.
San Francisco officials defended the city’s policies. A spokesperson for City Attorney David Chiu stated that the city’s approach has been repeatedly upheld by courts and argued that limiting local involvement in immigration enforcement strengthens trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
San Diego is now facing similar demands. Letters sent to Police Chief Scott Wahl and Sheriff Kelly Martinez focus on local restrictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Lawmakers pointed specifically to San Diego Police Department policies that prohibit officers from participating in immigration enforcement activities or inquiring about immigration status during routine policing.
The committee also highlighted the city council’s recently approved Due Process and Safety Ordinance, which requires federal immigration agents to obtain judicial warrants before entering non-public city facilities.
Sheriff Martinez’s office is also under examination for its handling of ICE detainer requests. The committee cited several cases identified by federal immigration officials, including one involving a Mexican national accused of causing a fatal traffic incident that killed 11-year-old Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz in 2025. Lawmakers claim an ICE detainer request in that case was declined.
Additional examples cited involved individuals arrested on allegations of child abuse, aggravated assault, and domestic violence whose detainer requests were also reportedly rejected.
Republicans argue these incidents demonstrate the consequences of sanctuary policies. The committee cited reports claiming California declined thousands of ICE detainer requests in a single year, resulting in the release of individuals accused of crimes ranging from assault to homicide.
Federal lawmakers have given the agencies until June 16 to provide records and communications detailing their interactions with ICE, their handling of detainer requests, and discussions with local officials regarding immigration enforcement.
