The United States Attorney's Office has put a new operation in motion to challenge California's sanctuary state policies that create a haven for criminal illegal aliens, based on information they released. Dubbed "Operation Guardian Angel," this crackdown targets felons without lawful status in the US who are currently held in county jails across the Central District of California, which spans several densely populated counties, including Los Angeles and Orange County. According to the announcement, federal law enforcement aims to issue arrest warrants enabling them to take custody of these individuals.
In a concerted retaliation against the perceived sheltering of criminals by the state, Operation Guardian Angel has begun its quest to file complaints and arrest warrants, a move that has led to the apprehension of 13 defendants since its inception on May 10. The Central District of California is estimated to harbor around 1.5 million illegal aliens, among whom authorities claim are gang members and other high-level offenders. Federal officials, frustrated by the local policies, declare that such protection measures cast federal immigration detainers aside. United States Attorney Bill Essayli was quoted, stating, "These laws effectively render federal immigration detainers meaningless."
Back in February 2025, José Cristian Saravia-Sánchez, who had a significant criminal history and was illegally in the country, was involved in the fatal shooting of a man in Inglewood. After trying to thwart the theft of a catalytic converter, the Inglewood man lost his life. Despite Saravia-Sánchez's criminal record and multiple re-entries into the US after deportation, the sanctuary state policies impeded local law enforcement from honoring an immigration detainer. The United States Attorney’s Office claims that "The days of giving criminal illegal aliens a free pass are over."
The mission of Operation Guardian Angel, structured to systematically dismantle the sanctuary status of California, aims to make communities less vulnerable to crimes perpetrated by illegal aliens with a criminal background. The operation signals a confrontation with state policies, conveying a federal commitment to not "ignore federal arrest warrants," as per United States Attorney Bill Essayli's words. As the initiative unfolds, the number of arrests is expected to rise substantially.
For more information on this initiative, Ciaran McEvoy, Public Information Officer for the United States Attorney's Office, has been designated as a point of contact and can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at (213) 894-4465.
