Sanctuary cities and counties declined to turn over 17,864 illegal immigrants in police custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that those jurisdictions rejected thousands of requests by the federal agency for local jails to hold illegal immigrants in custody on criminal charges so federal authorities can transfer them into ICE custody, where they would have gone through deportation proceedings.

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