Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • Peers serve as resource guides
    A man (left) and woman sits at a small decorated table outside. The table has a black cloth over it bearing the words "The Fainbarg Chase Thrive Center" for Santa Ana College with an illustrated sun peaking over the words. On the table are various informational items, such as flyers and pamphlets.
    Xavier Navarro, left, was a student ambassador while attending Santa Ana College. In this photo, he was tabling with his adviser, Hope Nguyen.

    Topline:

    Over 50 community college students in California currently serve as resource guides for peers in need of stable housing, food access and other basic needs.

    Why it matters: The need is acute. According to a recent report by the Community College League of California and the RP Group, only 32% of the 66,741 students who responded to their survey felt secure in meeting all their basic needs. Over half of respondents were concerned about running out of food; 3 out of 5 students experienced housing insecurity, and 1 in 4 reported experiencing homelessness.

    Read more ... to learn more about the impact the ambassadors have on fellow students.

    Over 50 community college students in California currently serve as resource guides for peers in need of stable housing, food access and other basic needs.

    The students are part of the California Community Colleges’ Student Ambassador Program, which trains students to share information on available resources, including CalFresh and housing stipends with their fellow students. The program uses peers to share such resources in an effort to reduce the stigma around accessing basic needs services.

    “They’re students on the campus, on the ground floor, knowing what students need, knowing how their campus operates, what works, what doesn’t,” said Yuriko Curiel, an ambassador program specialist.

    The need is acute. According to a recent report by The Community College League of California and the RP Group, only 32% of the 66,741 students who responded to their survey felt secure in meeting all their basic needs. Over half of respondents were concerned about running out of food; 3 out of 5 students experienced housing insecurity, and 1 in 4 reported experiencing homelessness.

    Anecdotes from two recent student ambassadors, Adela Gonzales and Xavier Navarro, highlighted the program’s impact.

    Gonzales said in a recent interview that she spoke with a student who was on his way to a Riverside City College parking structure where other students had died by suicide. The student told her that he was heading there because he was contemplating doing the same. But on that day, he came across Gonzales, who was handing out pamphlets regarding various student services, including mental health support.

    “I was able to talk with him … give him a little bit of validation, and then walk him to the Student Health and Psychological Center,” said Gonzales, who is studying biochemistry and sociology. “I still message him here and there to see how he’s doing.”

    She said what most stood out in her work as an ambassador was how only a few students were aware of the campus’ psychology center or their crisis text hotline. Her interest in supporting other students prompted her to join the program two school years in a row.

    A woman with brown skin tone wearing a white dress stands at a recruiting table outside, smiling.
    Adela Gonzales was a student ambassador for two years at Riverside City College.
    (
    EdSource
    )

    At Santa Ana College, Navarro was working at the campus food pantry when he met a fellow student veteran, named Louie, who didn’t have a home.

    Meeting Navarro, who was a student ambassador at the time, led to Louie being quickly connected to resources, including a housing voucher to book a hotel room for about a month, food assistance via CalFresh, a free bus pass, and a job at the same food pantry where he met Navarro.

    “He was hurting, and it hurts you as a person because you want to help … and now that you have the tools, why not?” said Navarro, who is now an accounting student at Cal Poly Pomona University in Southern California.

    It was Navarro’s own experience as a veteran that helped facilitate the initial conversation with Louie.

    “We care about the students, we want the students to succeed,” Navarro said. “Because college is hard, it’s expensive, and it can be challenging. Not having a home, not having food. … Caring goes a long way, especially for a college student.”

    Students’ identities are crucial in connecting with their peers, said Curiel, the program specialist who was an ambassador before she graduated from San Bernardino Valley College.

    A woman with wavy, long black hair wearing glasses stands at a college information table.
    Yuriko Curiel was a student ambassador and now works as a specialist for the program.
    (
    Courtesy Yuriko Curiel
    )

    “Not only are they connecting with peers, they’re connecting with people who reflect their own community,” she said, noting that Navarro is a veteran; Gonzales, a former foster youth; Curiel was balancing work and school as a single mom during her time as an ambassador.

    Ambassadors also often understand being food or housing insecure. Gonzales and Navarro, for example, both relied on CalFresh in the past. Gonzales also received a housing grant while enrolled in college because she couldn’t afford her rent after a roommate moved out of their shared apartment.

    Gonzales and Navarro said that a common response they got from students was disbelief that they might qualify for CalFresh, the state’s food assistance program. Complex eligibility rules for students is a known barrier to the program.

    “Not everybody on campus knows what’s available to them and how they can access, and even when they access that, there are still questions,” Gonzales said. “Being able to point them in the right direction and get the right information for them is very important.”

    The ambassador program was launched in 2016. Students who join are expected to put in at least six to eight hours each month, for which they receive a stipend of $1,500 after completing the program.

    The first cohort in 2016 included 20 students, while the current group includes 53 students. Previous groups have included over 100 ambassadors, according to Sarah London, external and executive communications director with the Foundation for California Community Colleges, which operates the program.

    “The fluctuation in numbers is solely based on available funding,” said London. “Ideally, we’d have hundreds of ambassadors every year, so we strive to bring on more philanthropic funders to support and help us grow these efforts in the future.”

    While student support services vary at the state’s 116 community colleges, some examples include CalFresh application assistance, low-cost auto insurance, a mental health crisis text hotline, and emergency financial aid grants, among others.

    Students interested in joining the program must apply for a position and meet eligibility requirements, which include being at least 18 years old, enrolled in at least one unit for the fall and spring semesters during the school year in which they’re applying, and availability to attend a Zoom training.

    Gonzales, Navarro and Curiel were all encouraged to apply for the program by staff members managing student organizations they had joined.

    For example, Gonzales was part of Guardian Scholars, a chapter-based organization on college campuses that helps support former foster and homeless youth, before learning about the ambassadors program. A staff member with the group noticed that Gonzales often took the initiative by sharing basic needs information with her peers and suggested she apply to be an ambassador.

    “I’ve always enjoyed providing resources for all my foster sisters,” she said, adding that joining the ambassador program felt like an extension of what she was already inclined to do in her personal life.

    Student ambassadors use a variety of strategies to reach their peers, such as tabling during campus events, creating social media posts, sending out mass emails about available resources, and presenting to their classmates during class breaks.

    “This is really investing in our next generation of leaders,” Curiel said. “I see our dean of student services coming out of this, our basic needs coordinators, or people doing public policy; I think that’s just the power of the program.”

    EdSource is an independent nonprofit organization that provides analysis on key education issues facing California and the nation. LAist republishes articles from EdSource with permission.

  • Sight and sound from lighting ceremony
    Tall trees with Christmas lights lit up. Tons of people are taking pictures.
    Cedar trees in Christmas Tree Lane are lit up at Saturday's lighting ceremony.

    Topline:

    The annual Christmas Tree Lane lighting ceremony was held on Saturday, the first time since the Eaton Fire.

    Why it matters: The lighting is Altadena’s kickoff to the holidays, a 105-year-old tradition that attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.

    Why now: The event takes on extra significance for attendees after devastations from the Eaton Fire.

    "3... 2... 1..."

    Voices rang out in unison until the near-mile long row of cedar trees along Santa Rosa Avenue burst with color.

    The Tree Lane lighting is Altadena’s kickoff to the holidays, a 105-year-old tradition that attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.

    And it is all that on Saturday night.

    But after the Eaton Fire, the celebration was more for many who attended. Many things about the lighting was the same: there were speeches by dignitaries, a performance by the high school drumline.

    But so much was different. A tree just off the lane was lit in white with 19 green lights honoring every person who died in the fire.

    A tree with Christmas lights hung on it. Most of the lights are yellow, except for a number of them which are green.
    A tree off the Christmas Tree Lane was lit in white with 19 green lights honoring every person who died in the fire.
    (
    Josie Huang
    /
    LAist
    )

    And during the ceremony, a minute and 19 seconds of silence was observed, led by the night’s emcee, actor Edward James Olmos.

    LAist was at Saturday night's lighting event.

    Megan Murdock

    A woman in a blue hat is next to a man with a beard. The photo is taken around dust. Big, tall trees line the street behind the couple.
    Longtime Altadena resident Megan Murdock and her partner Steven Valle.
    (
    Fiona Ng
    /
    LAist
    )

    Saturday marked longtime Altadena resident Megan Murdock's very first outing.

    "I love Christmas Tree Lane, but I've never been to the lighting event," she said. " This felt like the year to show up and represent."

    As the first anniversary of the Eaton Fire approaches, Murdock said it's been amazing to see the community rebuild, even though the scars are still raw.
    .
    "Through the rebuilding, there were really hard days, there's going be more really hard days," she said. "But today's a good day."

    Seamus Bozeman

    A man with reddish shoulder length hair, and a mustache. He is wearing a blue hoodie and smiling at the camera.
    Seamus Bozeman and his family lost their home in Altadena.
    (
    Fiona Ng
    /
    LAist
    )

    Seamus Bozeman will always call Altadena home.

    He and his family lost their house in the Eaton Fire. But every chance he gets, Bozeman (a former LAist intern) can be found hanging out in his old haunts.

    "I come back and shop at the shops as much as I can, eat from the restaurants here," he said. "I love this place so much."

    A photo of tall trees with Christmas lights. A huge number of people are on the street.
    Christmas Tree Lane lighting ceremony on Saturday.
    (
    Fiona Ng
    /
    LAist
    )

    He said the tree lighting ceremony he grew up knowing was a quaint, neighborhood affair.

    " With this whole festival and everything because of the fire, I don't know, it's not the same for me," he said.

    But change, he knows, is inevitable.

    " I'm hoping it's for the better," Bozeman said. "But one thing I do know is that we'll be closer as a community because of this fire."

    Patricia Valencia

    Two women wearing beanies are standing behind a festive scene
    Patricia Valencia (R) and her friend at the Christmas Tree Lane lighting ceremony.
    (
    Josie Huang
    /
    LAist
    )

    For Patricia Valencia, who lost her home in the fire, Saturday night's event was a reunion.

    "I saw my neighbor for the first time since we evacuated," she said. "It was emotional! I gave him a hug, and I was like, I think I'm gonna cry because I haven't seen you since that night that we left."

    Greg Demus

    A man wearing glasses and a yellow Lakers beanie holding a bag of kettle corn.
    Christmas Tree Lane resident Greg Demus.
    (
    Fiona Ng
    /
    LAist
    )

    Greg Demus lives right on Christmas Tree Lane. For him, the event is an annual ritual.

    " I've been coming here all my life," he said.

    But after the fire, few things are a given.

    " I wasn't quite sure what to expect," Demus said if this year's ceremony. "But it's good to see so many people come back to try to celebrate Altadena and keep Altadena strong."

    Howard and Linella Raff

    A man in a man and glasses. And a woman with wavy hear standing next to each other.
    Howard Raff and his wife Linella at Saturday's Christmas Tree Lane lighting ceremony.
    (
    Josie Huang
    /
    LAist
    )

    Howard Raff and his wife Linella are renting outside of Altadena as their home is remediated.

    "Coming back, you just want it to be what it was, and you don't know what it's going to be like. So having this was kind of an anchor of something that you knew was going to be there," Linella said.

    Marguerite Lockwood de Jauregui

    A woman in black hair holding a clipboard with a photograph.
    Marguerite Lockwood de Jauregui holds up a photocopy of the house in Altadena she lived in for three years, at the corner of Santa Rosa Avenue and East Mariposa Street where she is standing.
    (
    Fiona Ng
    /
    LAist
    )

    Marguerite Lockwood de Jauregui and her husband arrived at Christmas Tree Lane on Saturday in the early afternoon.

    As soon as they were able to enter the area, the two set up their chairs at the corner of Santa Rosa Avenue and E. Mariposa Street.

    A shot of two street signs at an intersection at night: Mariposa Street and Santa Rosa Avenue.
    The intersection of Mariposa Street and Santa Rosa Avenue at Christmas Tree Lane
    (
    Fiona Ng
    /
    LAist
    )

    The lot on that corner now sits razed and empty. But before the fire, it was the house where de Jauregui had lived for three years after college. A place where she built lifelong friendships with her roommates.

    "It was such great memories and a great camaraderie," she said.

    Altadena, she remembered, was vibrant and free-spirited.

     "It was a really close-knit community," she said. "When you go further down Fair Oaks, you could go to the movies and dinner. You get together with friends in their historical homes and we'd all sit around and play music."

    A clipboard with a photocopy of a house.
    Marguerite Lockwood de Jauregui brought with her a photocopy of the Altadena house she stayed at.
    (
    Fiona Ng
    /
    LAist
    )

    She returned to Christmas Tree Lane on Saturday to honor those formative years — and brought along images and drawings of the house that burned down.

    "It was almost like claiming a bit of my own personal history back," she said.

  • Sponsored message
  • Best pubs in L.A. for the World Cup and beyond
    A hand holding a fresh pint of beer.
    A pint of beer is served at the Great British Beer Festival on Aug. 1, 2006, in London.

    Topline:

    The FIFA World Cup is coming to L.A. in 2026. Fans of clubs from different parts of the world will probably look for something familiar when they land in L.A.

    And ... one British expat and writer has put together this guide for the best European pubs to watch games in the L.A. area.

    The FIFA World Cup is just a few months away, and some national soccer teams, like Cape Verde, Curacao and Uzbekistan are competing for the first time. Their fans — and those of the other 45 countries — will probably look for something familiar when they land in L.A.

    Whether it’s a fast food logo or a restaurant serving regional dishes from home, that sense of familiarity can be the first stepping stone before you start discovering the delights of where you are now.

    When I arrived in Los Angeles from England, I was soon directed to Ye Olde King's Head in Santa Monica. Judging by the dozens of photographs on the wall, it has been a kind of entry checkpoint for newly arrived British Isles celebrities and regulars alike since the 1970s. They do afternoon tea, of course, plus their bar will open early to show UK soccer matches. Their store has snacks and candy for the homesick.

    It was, of course, reassuring for me to hear familiar accents and recognize the beers on tap and even some of the crisps — sorry, chips — behind the bar. Asking whether any “football” matches were going to be shown didn’t raise any eyebrows either, even though that could mean having to arrive soon after sunrise because of the time difference in the UK.

    A plated dish of traditional British comfort food, accompanied by condiments and a menu with a Union Jack design. A Ye Olde King’s Head menu is next to the plate.
    British comfort food at Ye Olde King's Head in Santa Monica.
    (
    Donal Tavey
    )

    Even if I had been living locally, I don’t think it would have become my “local” (as it were) because I thought it was important to try to get to know my new home, rather than hold on too tight to what I had just left behind.

    That said, I did occasionally return to watch football matches and even for a couple of New Year’s Eves, which happen here at 4 p.m. to coincide with midnight in England. Then I could call home and hear the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” while we in the pub were singing it at the same time.

    Here's a select list of pubs where you can sample the drinks, eats and even watch the sports from several European countries.

    Ireland

    • The Auld Fella (Culver City & Brentwood)
      9375 Culver Blvd., Culver City
    An outdoor dining area attached to a building with a sign reading “The Auld Fella” -- an Irish pub.
    Auld Fella in Culver City
    (
    Kevin Kearns
    /
    Courtesy Auld Fella
    )

    Owned by an actual Irishman, Kevin Kearns from Inishowen, they pour an excellent Guinness (don’t ask any Irish person about the importance of that, nor how hard it is to find that in L.A.) and have a good selection of savory pies. Kevin’s also an actor and appeared in blockbuster Battleship.

    The exterior of a classic, old-fashioned pub called Tom Bergin’s. The building has a traditional, cottage-like design with a steep, dark green shingled roof and brick walls at the lower level.
    Tom Bergin's in the Fairfax District.
    (
    James Bartlett
    /
    LAist
    )

    An L.A. staple since 1936, it’s the center of celebrations on St. Patrick’s Day. Stapled to the ceiling and walls around the horseshoe bar are shamrocks with the names of past patrons: try to find Cary Grant, Kiefer Sutherland, Ronald Reagan and Bing Crosby. A short menu, but you can get shepherd’s pie (steak, carrots, celery, caramelized onions, under mashed potatoes), and it’s said to have invented Irish coffee. Choose that or a good Guinness.

     The exterior of Molly Malone’s Irish Pub. The building has a traditional pub facade with bold signage and decorative elements that evoke Irish heritage. The street appears wet, suggesting recent rain, and there are flags visible, including an American flag and an Irish tricolor.
    Molly Malone's in the Fairfax District.
    (
    James Bartlett
    /
    LAist
    )

    Owned by Irish family the Hanlons since 1969, Molly’s was damaged by a fire last year but bounced right back with its dark interior and original mission as a place where Irish troubadours and traditional musicians could get together. It’s long been a respected music venue and occasionally gets some bigger names on stage. You’ll get a good pour here, too, though the menu is just a few items long.

    Scotland

    Named after a bonnet worn by Scotsmen, the “Tam” looks like a castle crossed with a witch’s house, in part because the original fairytale European look wasn’t a hit for owners Van de Kamp bakeries when they opened in 1922, so they pivoted to kilts, flags and bagpipes. Actors came in from the nearby studios, and famously, Walt Disney and his companions were regulars. A steakhouse, it also offers Scottish rarebit (cheddar, Scottish ale, cayenne pepper on sourdough) and, as you see when you enter, a large selection of scotch whiskeys. It even has resident ghosts!

    Germany

    Head to Wirsthaus to experience the best of Bavaria with steins of German beers, giant pretzels, schnitzel (boneless, thin slices of meat that are pounded, breaded and pan-fried until golden and crispy), bratwurst (sausages), plenty of oompah music and staff dressed in traditional dirndls and lederhosen — the Hollywood movie go-to for scenes of beer debauchery.

    • Red Lion Tavern (Silver Lake)
      2366 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles
      two distinctive beer glasses shaped like boots, filled with frothy beer, sitting on a bar mat. The glasses say "Red Lion Tavern"
      Red Lion in Los Feliz.
      (
      Trashingetc
      /
      Courtesy Red Lion
      )

    Originally an “Olde English” pub opened by the then-owners of Cole’s in downtown, it always had some German beers on draft, and in 1963, new owners fully embraced that. The German wife of one of them reportedly taught her home recipes to the chef, and it was German-owned until 2004, when Aidas Mattis and family, longtime patrons, took over. They kept up the style at this small, maze-like local favorite: flags, German signs, memorabilia and the back-patio beer garden. Schnitzel, spaetzle (doughy noodles), goulash and bratwurst are on the menu, as well as many beers and ciders. Oktoberfest runs Oct. 14, 15, 21 and 22. Try a four-liter boot of beer.

    England

    • The Cat & Fiddle (West Hollywood)
      742 Highland Ave., West Hollywood
      A spacious bar area with a rustic yet elegant design.
The room features high ceilings and a mix of traditional and decorative elements.
      The Cat & Fiddle in West Hollywood.
      (
      James Bartlett
      /
      LAist
      )

    Located on Sunset Boulevard for several decades, “The Cat” has long been an expat hangout, especially for musicians. Now on Highland Avenue, the Gardner children carry on offering a friendly face and a familiar meal to all visitors. Their Sunday roasts are a real taste of home, and they have other classic British dishes like shepherd’s pie, a ploughman’s lunch (Gloucester, brie, scotch egg, grapes, cornichons, Branston pickle and baguette), Scotch egg and sticky toffee pudding. Want to know what those last two are? Go visit!

    • The Canaby (in the works)

    Soon, ex-pats will be able to try Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby, a recently announced 175-seat British gastropub that will open at Downtown Disney and bring 1960s London to Anaheim. Live bands will play music from that fab era, and dishes will include beef Wellington, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding. No word yet on an opening date.

  • Trump's b-day is in, MLK Day, Juneteenth are out

    Topline:

    The Trump administration has removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from next year's calendar of entrance fee-free days for national parks and added President Trump's birthday to the list, according to the National Park Service.

    Why now: The administration continues to push back against a reckoning of the country's racist history on federal lands.

    Other free dates: In addition to Trump's birthday — which coincides with Flag Day (June 14) — the updated calendar of fee-free dates includes the 110th anniversary of the NPS (August 25), Constitution Day (September 17) and President Teddy Roosevelt's birthday (October 27). The changes will take effect starting January 1.

    The Trump administration has removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from next year's calendar of entrance fee-free days for national parks and added President Trump's birthday to the list, according to the National Park Service, as the administration continues to push back against a reckoning of the country's racist history on federal lands.

    In addition to Trump's birthday — which coincides with Flag Day (June 14) — the updated calendar of fee-free dates includes the 110th anniversary of the NPS (August 25), Constitution Day (September 17) and President Teddy Roosevelt's birthday (October 27). The changes will take effect starting January 1.

    Non-U.S. residents will still be required to pay entrance fees on those dates under the new "America-first pricing" policy. At 11 of some of the country's most popular national parks, international visitors will be charged an extra $100, on top of the standard entrance fee, and the annual pass for non-residents will go up to $250. The annual pass for residents will be $80.

    The move follows a July executive order from the White House that called to increase fees applied to non-American visitors to national parks and grant citizens and residents "preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules."

    The Department of the Interior, which oversees NPS, called the new fee-exempted dates "patriotic fee-free days," in an announcement that lauded the changes as "Trump's commitment to making national parks more accessible, more affordable and more efficient for the American people."

    The Interior Department did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment.

    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement: "These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations."

    The new calendar follows the Trump administration's previous moves to reshape U.S. history by asking patrons of national parks to flag any signs at sites deemed to cast a negative light on past or living Americans.
    Copyright 2025 NPR

  • Poll finds Californians want due process for all
    People's hands are pointing at masked men in Homeland Security uniforms.
    Neighbors confront Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Special Response Team officers following an immigration raid at the Italian restaurant Buono Forchetta in San Diego on May 30, 2025.

    Topline:

    A new poll shared exclusively with CalMatters adds to a slate of surveys suggesting Californians’ support is waning for Trump’s harshest immigration enforcement policies.

    About the poll: The Goodwin Simon Strategic Research poll examines California voters’ attitudes toward due process for immigrants with criminal convictions during the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on unauthorized immigration. The survey also examined support for how tax dollars are spent and Californians’ views on the state’s sanctuary policies.

    The findings: There is bipartisan support for ensuring that immigrants facing deportation receive due process, including ones with criminal records.

    If you found out your neighbor had a past criminal conviction, your knee-jerk reaction might be that you’d want them relocated.

    But what if that person committed a burglary in their late teens, served years in state prison, turned their life around, and now mentors at-risk youth?

    Do the details matter? Researchers found that they do.

    A new poll by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research examines California voters’ attitudes toward due process for immigrants with criminal convictions during the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on unauthorized immigration. The survey also examined support for how tax dollars are spent and Californians’ views on the state’s sanctuary policies.

    It found bipartisan support for ensuring that immigrants facing deportation receive due process, including ones with criminal records.

    “This survey shows that there’s clear concern about the current administration’s approach to immigration enforcement,” said Sara Knight, a research director at Goodwin Simon Strategic Research. “I’m not surprised by the results, but I am heartened to see how strong the support for due process is and the growing frustration with treating people inhumanely in our immigration system.”

    President Donald Trump campaigned on the promise of mass deportations that targeted criminals, among other things, and he has made good on that. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested more than 160,608 noncitizens nationwide with criminal convictions or pending charges, since his inauguration.

    The Trump administration has sought to expand the use of “expedited removal,” which allows immigration officers to remove certain non-citizens, like those convicted of crimes, from the United States without a hearing before an immigration judge.

    Researchers say this latest poll by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, released to CalMatters this week, also reflects waning support, even among a small majority of Republicans for the harshest immigration enforcement practices. It showed 84% of Democrats, 61% of independents, and 54% of Republicans agreed that “even if someone does have a record, they deserve due process and the chance to have their case heard by a judge before being deported.”

    The poll was commissioned by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, both pro-immigrant organizations. Goodwin Simon Strategic Research describes itself on its website as an “independent opinion research firm.” Researchers wrote the survey questions and polled more than 1,200 self-identified voters. Knight said the partisan divide among those polled mirrored the party-affiliation split in the electorate. The margin of error was 3 points.

    Some other recent polls echo similar conclusions released in recent weeks, including one released last week by UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab that found one-third of Latino voters who supported Trump now regret their choice. Another public opinion poll by the nonpartisan research firm Public Policy Institute of California found 71% of Californians surveyed said they disapproved of the job ICE is doing. And, a CNN exit poll after the Proposition 50 redistricting election on Nov. 4 found that about three-quarters of California voters said they’re dissatisfied with or angry about the way things are going in the U.S., and 6 in 10 said the Trump administration’s actions on immigration enforcement have gone too far.

    Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, pointed to other recent national polls to argue the public supports Trump’s immigration policies.

    “President Trump and (Homeland Security) Secretary (Kristi) Noem are delivering on the American people’s mandate to deport illegal aliens, and the latest polls show that support for the America First agenda has not wavered — including a New York Times poll that nearly 8 in 10 Americans support deporting illegal aliens with criminal records,” McLaughlin said in a written statement.

    “The American people, the law, and common sense are on our side, and we will not stop until law and order is restored after Biden’s open border chaos flooded our country with the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” she continued.

    From prison to ICE

    In the more recent Goodwin Simon Strategic Research poll, 61% of voters surveyed said they want California’s prison system to stop directly handing immigrants over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

    The state’s sanctuary law does not apply to immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes. State prisons have transferred to ICE more than 9,500 people with criminal records since Gov. Gavin Newsom took office in 2019, according to data released to CalMatters. So far in 2025, ICE has picked up 1,217 inmates directly from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the data shows.

    The corrections department also provides ICE with information that helps the agency locate, arrest, and deport people who are not directly transferred. CalMatters obtained and reviewed more than 27,000 pages of emails between state prison employees and ICE. The emails show prison employees regularly communicate with ICE about individuals in state custody, including U.S. citizens. They often share personal details about their families, visitors, and phone calls. Often, these family members have no criminal records and are U.S. citizens

    Newsom, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, and Speaker Robert Rivas have all denounced ICE’s broader deportation efforts. But all three have also indicated some level of support for having federal immigration officials remove noncitizens with prior convictions for violent crimes from the community.

    The governor has stated he would veto legislation that seeks to restrict the state prison system’s ability to coordinate with federal immigration authorities for the deportation of felons.

    ‘We may be deporting the wrong people’

    Goodwin Simon researchers found that voters’ opinions change when they find out more details about the personal circumstances of a noncitizen with a past criminal conviction, even for violent crime. Pollsters gave two narratives to voters.

    One was about a man who was brought to the United States from Mexico as a child. He got into a fight in his early 20s that left someone injured. The man was sentenced to seven years in state prison, where he turned his life around by taking college classes and helping other inmates get their high school diplomas. When he got out of prison, he was deported to Mexico before an immigration judge could decide on his case.

    The other narrative was about a person closely connected to a man whose family fled genocide in Cambodia when he was a baby. In the U.S., the man was the lookout for a robbery when he was a teenager and served 30 years in state prison. Upon his release, prison officials turned him over to ICE.

    “We may be deporting the wrong people. Although this last person did commit a crime, he has served his time and is now a valuable member of society, so it would be hard to say for sure if a person ever committed a crime deserves to be sent back. That is why the due process is important,” one Republican voter from Sacramento responded to the poll. She shifted her opinion from the view that people with past criminal convictions should be automatically deported to favoring a judge reviewing each individual case after hearing the narratives.

    After voters reviewed both pro- and anti-messaging and the two stories, support for having an immigration judge review individual cases before deportation increased from 84% to 90% among Democrats; from 61% to 74% among independents, but it dropped from 54% to 51% among Republicans. Central Coast voters and Republican women voters increased support for due process by 9 points after hearing the stories.