HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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California prisons transfer thousands to ICE after sentence completion

May 2, 2026 · CA

California prisons transfer thousands to ICE after sentence completion

A Marshall Project investigation examines California's practice of transferring incarcerated people to ICE custody upon their release from state prison. Since 2015, over 18,000 people have been transferred, including those with valid legal status and those whose convictions were vacated. The article contrasts California's approach with Oregon's 2021 law prohibiting such transfers and details how the prison-to-ICE pipeline has intensified under the Trump administration.

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