<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE —</strong> U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has initiated a month-and-a-half-long immigration enforcement operation across California, targeting both serious offenders and noncriminal undocumented immigrants, according to sources familiar with the operation.</p>
<p>The operation, referred to internally as Operation Safe California, began several days ago in the San Diego area and is expected to last at least 45 days. ICE leadership has instructed officers to arrest all undocumented immigrants they encounter, regardless of their criminal history.</p>
<p>According to one source, ICE management is focused on achieving high arrest numbers. A second source indicated that officers have been directed to apprehend anyone, including those without criminal records, who are found to be in the country illegally.</p>
<p>This operation comes ahead of the midterm elections and is part of the Trump administration's strategy to increase ICE activity in Democratic-leaning states, following similar operations in Minnesota, Illinois, New York, and Oregon.</p>
<p>ICE officers from San Diego, along with personnel from the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices, will progress north through Los Angeles and up to San Francisco by November. This operation will utilize fewer federal officers compared to the two-month enforcement effort in Minnesota last winter, according to sources.</p>
<p>The second official noted that this initiative is similar to ICE's regular operations, but it involves additional officers focusing on smaller areas simultaneously. The official mentioned that the operation will emphasize the arrest of serious criminals, with plans for press releases detailing the arrests and highlighting notable cases. Challenges are anticipated in San Francisco, which is perceived as more resistant to ICE operations compared to Los Angeles.</p>
<p>California's state policy prohibits local and state police from assisting ICE with federal immigration enforcement, making San Francisco a particularly challenging area for ICE operations.</p>
<p>Many ICE officers in California have been working six-day weeks for several months, with previously approved time off requests canceled as they prepare for the statewide operation.</p>
<p>In July 2025, ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection intensified their presence in the Los Angeles region as part of a targeted effort to arrest undocumented immigrants, which led to public protests and confrontations between federal officers and demonstrators.</p>
<p>The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not confirm or deny the existence of Operation Safe California when asked on Wednesday but stated that ICE cannot disclose specific law enforcement operations for the safety and security of its employees. A DHS spokesperson emphasized that the department enforces immigration laws daily and referenced recent arrests of undocumented immigrants in California, including individuals convicted of serious crimes such as drug trafficking and homicide.</p>