The Brief

After launching immigration sweeps that sparked weeks of protests in Los Angeles, the Trump administration faulted California policies for protecting those they described as “the worst of the worst,” meaning immigrants convicted of violent crimes.

“Why do Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass care more about violent murderers and sex offenders than they do about protecting their own citizens?” said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a news release announcing a group of LA detentions.

However, records and a CalMatters analysis show the state had previously coordinated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempting to hand over two of the agency’s top targets in LA: Roland E. Veneracion-Enriquez and Cuong Chanh Phan, both of whom had served time in state prisons for violent offenses.

That cooperation undercuts the Trump administration’s characterization of why it launched a massive immigration crackdown in the nation’s second-largest city.

Chanh Phan, who had served time after being convicted of murder, was released directly to ICE in 2022, records show.

As for Veneracion, state prison officials in May told ICE about the prisoner’s upcoming release, but the feds did not pick him up. Instead, the convicted sex offender was released, and ICE trumpeted his arrest in Los Angeles two weeks later.

California’s so-called sanctuary law does not apply to unauthorized immigrants convicted of serious crimes, and state prisons have handed over more than 9,000 people with those backgrounds to ICE since Gov. Gavin Newsom took office in 2019, state data show. The same rules apply to county jails, where sheriffs sometimes complain that ICE fails to pick up people who they believe should be deported in compliance with the sanctuary law.

In those cases, prison or jail employees communicate with federal immigration authorities before someone’s release.

Four others on the “worst of the worst” list had served time in Los Angeles and Orange County jails, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Officials at those jails said they did not know whether sheriff’s deputies had been in communication with ICE about those men prior to their release.

Top Trump officials have repeatedly said they’re targeting “criminal illegal aliens,” but immigrant and civil rights groups allege federal authorities have launched an indiscriminate enforcement blitz that’s mostly netted day laborers and workers from Latino communities who are not threats to public safety.

Between June 6 and June 22, immigration enforcement teams arrested 1,618 immigrants for deportation in Los Angeles and surrounding regions of Southern California, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to CalMatters last week. During that time, masked agents have arrested car wash employees, farmworkers, U.S. citizens, and people attending their immigration court hearings.

Federal data obtained by the Cato Institute shows 65% of the people booked into ICE detention since October 2024 have no criminal convictions. More than 93% of those booked were never convicted of violent offenses, according to the libertarian research center. Data shows immigrants — including those who are undocumented — commit crimes at much lower rates than U.S.-born citizens do.

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to emailed questions from CalMatters about the arrests of Veneracion and Chanh Phan.

How ICE detainers work

An ICE detainer – or an “immigration hold” – is a written request between a jail or prison and federal immigration authorities to coordinate the prisoner’s release directly to immigration authorities, typically to start the process for deportation.

ICE holds or detainers are the primary method immigration authorities use to find people for deportation. Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a national nonprofit that provides legal training and does pro-immigrant policy work in California and Texas, estimated in January that 70 to 75% of ICE arrests in the interior of the U.S. were historically handoffs from another law enforcement agency, such as local jails or state or federal prisons.

When a person enters the state prison system, the corrections department is required to identify people who may be subject to deportation within 90 days and send an initial inquiry to ICE. Typically, ICE will respond about whether the person can be deported and, if so, issue a detainer. The detainer means ICE will take custody of the person upon their release.

Shortly before an individual is released, state prison employees again contact ICE and let them know the person’s release date is approaching. ICE then decides whether or not they will pick the person up.

So far in 2025, ICE has picked up 587 people of 11,231 inmates released from the state prison system. They pick up about 87% of the people whom they’ve placed detainers on, state data shows.

What we know about former prisoners detained in LA

Veneracion-Enriquez, 55, was released from a California state prison in May after spending 28 years in prison for rape, according to the California Department of Justice’s sex offender database and the corrections department. The corrections department was ready to hand him over to ICE, but a day before his release, ICE cancelled his detainer, state officials confirmed in response to questions from CalMatters.

That month, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation contacted ICE about Veneracion’s pending release, as required by law. Emails show that they notified ICE that Veneracion was going to be released within 15 days. Typically, the federal immigration agency prefers to apprehend criminals in a controlled location directly outside a state prison. But on May 19, ICE cancelled the hold, according to state officials. He was released a day later.

Veneracion was released and given an ankle monitor to wear that broadcast his location to law enforcement authorities. His address was included in the sex offender registry. According to state records, his last registered address was at an apartment complex in Long Beach.

Immigration authorities then arrested Veneracion, a citizen of the Philippines, on June 7 during his regularly scheduled ICE check-in at the Los Angeles ICE office. It’s unclear if he’s been deported.

Chanh Phan, the other former state prisoner highlighted on the Homeland Security Department’s “worst of the worst” list, was released directly into ICE’s custody in August 2022 during the Biden administration, according to corrections department records. He was on parole until Aug. 14, 2024.

“Criminal Illegal Alien Arrested during Los Angeles ICE Operation Committed Notorious Gang-Affiliated Murder of Two Teenagers at a Graduation Party” is the headline on the press release the Department of Homeland Security sent out to publicize its arrest of Chanh Phan, a 49-year-old from Vietnam. He had spent 24 years in prison for second-degree murder.

“This criminal illegal alien is who Governor Newsom, Mayor Bass, and the rioters in Los Angeles are trying to protect over U.S. citizens,” the Department of Homeland Security wrote in the press release.

It is unclear what happened after California released him to ICE, such as whether Chanh Phan remained in ICE detention or whether he was released by ICE into Los Angeles and then re-arrested last month. CalMatters does not have details about where or how Chanh Phan was arrested by ICE last month.

Federal immigration authorities face off against protesters during an ICE raid at Ambiance Apparel in Downtown Los Angeles on June 6, 2025.

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Newsom vetoed bills to expand sanctuary law

California adopted its sanctuary law during the first Trump administration. It’s meant to shield unauthorized immigrants accused of minor infractions from facing deportation.

The law allows state corrections officials to continue working with federal immigration agencies regarding individuals in state custody who are facing deportation after serving their sentences. It also allows local law enforcement officials to work with the feds for individuals convicted of serious or violent felonies, such as assaults, child abuse, felony DUI, and other crimes.

At the local level, at least one sheriff wishes ICE would pick up more people.

In March, the Orange County sheriff made headlines for complaining that ICE wasn’t picking up all of the people it could. Sheriff Don Barnes told the Orange County Board of Supervisors that out of 48,000 suspects booked into jail in 2024, 733 were deportable, but the state’s sanctuary law prevented deputies from alerting ICE about 456 inmates. Of the remaining 277, 49 were not picked up by federal authorities, Barnes told the board.

"Those who are not picked up by ICE continue to victimize our community and consume law enforcement resources,'' he told the county board.

State lawmakers have tried expanding the sanctuary protections to people in prison. In 2019 and 2023, Newsom vetoed two bills that would have restricted the corrections department’s cooperation with ICE.

In the most recent veto, he said that the current law “strikes the right balance.”

Newsom has long positioned California as a bastion of immigrant rights, often clashing publicly with federal officials over deportation policy. But under his watch, the state has facilitated thousands of transfers from prison to ICE – a point he recently emphasized in a back-and-forth on social media with Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

“Yes, we seek sanctuary from your stupidity,” Newsom’s press office recently posted, responding to criticism from a former Trump aide in April. “P.S. Voldermort, you should know the state has coordinated 10,588+ times with ICE to remove dangerous criminals from the state since Governor Newsom took office.”

This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.

It’s a very sports-focused week. From the NBA Finals to last weekend’s French Open (I’m still catching up on sleep from getting up too early!) and Freeway Series, to, of course, the first games of the World Cup starting Thursday, there’s really something for every type of sportsball fan. But if you’re not set on gluing yourself to a TV, there’s still plenty to do.

Music-wise, Lyndsey Parker at Licorice Pizza notes that Monday will be a bittersweet night, as the Regent hosts a celebration of life for Gregg Foreman — of Cat Power, the Delta 72 and many other bands — who tragically died in April. Members of She Wants Revenge, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many more will come together to honor this local hero.

On Tuesday, Rush continues their comeback at the Forum (they’ll also be there Thursday and Saturday), while Quintron & Miss Pussycat with Dagger Polyester bring their revue to the Bob Baker Marionette Theater.

Wednesday, Rod Stewart and special guest Richard Marx play the Hollywood Bowl, the Church congregates at the Fonda and Earl Sweatshirt plays the Hollywood Palladium. On Thursday, FIFA World Cup fever kicks off, with Snoop Dogg at the Santa Monica Pier and Peso Pluma playing the Adidas Home of Soccer event at BMO Stadium.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can vouch for L.A. pizza alongside food editor Gab Chabrán, get your guide to the local World Cup fan fests and follow the election results as they continue to trickle in and finalize

Events

Hugh Ryan: My Bad: A Personal History of the Queer Nineties

Tuesday, June 9, 6:30 p.m.
ASU FIDM 
919 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Writer, historian and curator Hugh Ryan will be in conversation with author Michelle Tea to discuss his new book about LGBTQ life in the '90s, My Bad: A Personal History of the Queer Nineties and Beyond. The talk goes along with the exhibit at FIDM, Obsessed: Fashion and Nostalgia in the ‘90s, open now through June 27. The gallery will be open late as well.

Paint the Park

Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Crystal Cove State Park 
Los Trancos Lot
Newport Beach
COST: $110; MORE INFO 

Paint en plein air like Matisse, Renoir, and the great French masters who headed to the Riviera to be inspired by the light and the sea. We have our own little slice of beach heaven right here in Crystal Cove, and twice a week all summer long, you can learn to paint and enjoy the fresh air.

Alt:adena

Tuesday, June 9, 7 p.m. 
Good Neighbor Bar 
2311 Lincoln Ave., Altadena
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

The second of three community-healing conversations in June is happening at Good Neighbor Bar. This week, Alt:adena focuses on the theme of the land and rebuilding. All are welcome at these events, which are aimed at convening “fire survivors, builders, organizers, and technical experts united by a shared curiosity, whether by choice or lived necessity.”

Tiny Desk Concert

Wednesday, June 10, 7 p.m.
The Regent
448 S. Main Street, Downtown L.A. 
COST: $35.75; MORE INFO

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The winner of the 2026 Tiny Desk Concert contest, Cure for Paranoia, is out on tour and will take the not-so-tiny stage at the Regent downtown with special guests Noa Bar and Jacquie Lee. Quite the upgrade from Bob Boilen’s desk in DC!

World Cup watch parties

From Thursday, June 11
Various locations
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO 

The World Cup is coming to SoFi Stadium, and there will be watch parties all around town.

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I don’t even know where to start! From the first coin toss on Thursday, countless local bars, public viewing spaces, fan zones, museums and more will be showing all the World Cup games, so you don’t miss a single kick. As a starting point, you can check out the free watch parties the city is putting on.

Photography Meets Sculpture

Wednesday, June 10, 7 p.m.
Beverly Hills Public Library 
444 N Rexford Drive, 2nd Floor, Beverly Hills
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

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Get a preview of LACMA photography department curator Eve Schillo’s upcoming exhibition, Photography Meets Sculpture: Talking about Photo Hybrids, at this event hosted by the Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles. The exhibit will tour Southern California next summer as part of LACMA's Local Access initiative.

Eugene Daub: Sculpting Through History

Thursday, June 11, 5:30 p.m.
El Segundo Public Library
111 W. Mariposa Ave., El Segundo
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Just ahead of America’s 250th birthday, historical sculptor Eugene Daub will talk about some of his favorite artworks, like his sculptures of Sacagawea, Rosa Parks and more, at the El Segundo Public Library. Daub will also sign copies of his new book, Eugene Daub: Portraits, Medals, and Monuments, which will be available for purchase.

Foodie Week

Through Sunday, June 14
Westfield Century City 
10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City
COST: VARIES, MORE INFO

Century City Mall has attracted some of the buzziest restaurants in the city, and this week, many are featuring specials for the center’s Foodie Week. Some of the highlights include Katsuya’s $65 three-course prix fixe menu at dinner, while Super Peach also has a $65 prix fixe. Eataly's rooftop restaurant has $35 lunch and $65 dinner prix fixe menu, and my favorite, Venchi, has buy one gelato, get the second half off, plus 20% off all gelato to-go containers.

Los Angeles is often celebrated for its warm weather, Hollywood glamour and championship sports teams but the city’s foundation has a powerful Black history that is often overlooked.

From the city’s Black founders and their fight to be free from slavery, to a Black architect who designed thousands of buildings throughout the city, L.A.’s first Black residents have had lasting influence.

The LA Local traveled around the city to unearth some of the intriguing Black history facts. Here we highlight seven sites in Los Angeles that show the contributions of Black people in Los Angeles.

Bridget ‘Biddy’ Mason Memorial Park

Situated behind an office building on South Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles is a tribute to Bridget “Biddy” Mason. She was born enslaved in Mississippi and was brought to California by her owner Robert Marion Smith — even though slavery was illegal in California. After being enslaved in the state for five years, Mason won her freedom in 1856 by challenging her enslavement in court. Thirteen other family members were also freed, according to the National Park Service..

She became one of L.A.’s first Black woman landowners building wealth through real estate. Her net worth was said to be about $3 million in the 1860s, which would equate to nearly $60 million today. She also provided housing and food for the poor, acted as a midwife and helped establish the city’s first Black church, NPS noted.

The memorial park stands near property she once owned.

First African Methodist Episcopal Church

The First African Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as First AME or FAME, was co-founded in 1872 by Mason and other Black leaders. It was first located on Spring Street in Los Angeles, according to the National Park Service. The church was then moved to Harvard Boulevard, where it still stands today. It became a spiritual, political and organizing hub for Black Angelenos during segregation, according to the church’s website.

Most recently, the church was pastored by the Rev. Cecil Murray from 1977 to 2004. Under his leadership the church grew from 250 members to 18,000 at the time of his retirement, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel.

The first home built by architect Paul R. Williams

Though he faced racial discrimination, Paul Revere Williams became one of the most celebrated architects in L.A., whose legacy reshaped the city’s skyline and luxury design culture.

He was the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. He designed thousands of buildings during his career, including The Beverly Hills Hotel and homes for Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. Williams was also part of the team that designed the iconic Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport, as reported by LAist.

His first home sits in South Central and is designated as a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. He lived in this home for about 30 years until racial covenants were outlawed in the 1950s.

African American Firefighter Museum

On Central Avenue in South Central sits the historic fire station and museum that honors the Black firefighters who broke racial barriers in the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The museum “resides inside Fire Station No. 30, one of two segregated firehouses in Los Angeles between 1924 and 1955,” according to the museum’s website. The museum also notes that Sam Haskins was the first Black man to join the L.A. Fire Department in 1892 and died three years later fighting a fire.

The museum was founded in 1997 and is a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. It is also registered with the National Register of Historic Places.

Gilbert W. Lindsay Recreation Center

The Gilbert W. Lindsay Recreation Center on East 42nd Place is named in honor of the first Black member of the Los Angeles City Council, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Before taking office, he worked as a janitor for the city’s Department of Water and Power, according to LA City Parks.

Elected in 1963, Lindsay represented District 9 for nearly 30 years. He supported civil rights and fought for economic investment, infrastructure improvements and services in historically underserved Black neighborhoods. He also served on the board of directors of the NAACP.

28th Street YMCA

The 28th Street YMCA building was designed by Williams, the renowned architect.

It was originally constructed to serve Black residents in L.A. who were banned from other facilities during segregation, according to the LA Conservancy. It won a Conservancy Preservation Award in 2013.

It became a hub for housing, community programs and social gatherings. Today, it serves as affordable housing for low-income adults and is listed with the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ralph J. Bunche House

The former home of Ralph J. Bunche, the first Black person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, is located in South Central on East 40th Place. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bunche played a key role in negotiating the 1949 Arab-Israeli armistice agreements through the United Nations. He also helped organize the civil rights march in Montgomery, Ala., in 1965, the Nobel Peace Prize organization said.

Born in Detroit, he moved to L.A. with his family and later became valedictorian at Jefferson High School. He attended UCLA on an athletic scholarship and “graduated in 1927 summa cum laude, valedictorian of his class, with a major in international relations,” the Nobel Peace Prize organization said. He also received a master’s degree in political science from Harvard in 1928. The Ralph J. Bunche Center was established in 1969 at UCLA in his honor.

The World Cup already is a massive undertaking for organizers. So imagine what it would take for families to brave the traffic, parking and crowds for one of the eight tournament matches at SoFi Stadium this summer.

But don’t worry: There are plenty of World Cup-related things to do with kids and a bunch of activities around L.A. to help you get in on the tournament action.

L.A. County Library's Summer of Soccer starts now

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LA County Library Summer of Soccer

LA County Library is celebrating the World Cup being in town with a “Summer of Soccer” at its branches. Activities include storytimes, movie nights and craft-making activities for kids of varying ages.

When: May 20 to July 9

Cost: Free

Learn more.

California Science Center's new exhibition celebrates the transformative power of play and the joy of the human body in motion.

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California Science Center ‘GAME ON!’ exhibit

The California Science Center has a new 17,000-square-foot exhibit, “GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play,” full of interactive activities to explore the science behind sports. The exhibit includes a practice batting area and a mini-field to practice soccer kicks.

When: Now, through the LA 2028 Olympics

Cost: Admission is free, but groups of 15 or more require a timed reservation.

Learn more.

Union Station hosts a World Cup fan zone.

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City of Los Angeles’ ‘Kick it in the Park’ 

The city is hosting a series of family-friendly watch parties across the city during the World Cup. The parties will have youth soccer clinics and “family fun zones” with interactive activities and arts. Other cities, like West Hollywood and Pasadena, are also hosting local family-friendly watch parties.

When: June 11 to July 19

Cost: Free

Learn more.

Soccer Shots, a kids soccer program, is hosting a Game Day at the Americana.

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Soccer Shots Game Day 

Soccer Shots, a kids soccer program, is hosting a Game Day at the Americana on June 27 for children 5-8 years old. Players will be split into teams to play round-robin style games.

When: 2 to 4 p.m. June 27

Cost: Tickets are $20

Learn more.

The Torrance Historical Society & Museum

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Torrance Historical Society & Museum

Did you know that the American Youth Soccer Organization, or more commonly known as AYSO, was founded in Torrance? Well, the museum there is hosting a curated collection of soccer memorabilia to celebrate the World Cup.

When: The exhibit is open until Aug. 31

Cost: Free

Learn more.

When the sun goes down it’s easy to spot the bars and clubs where the parties happen in Los Angeles. But summertime is (possibly) the best time to explore the region’s not-so-obvious nightlife offerings.

Want to explore the cemetery through music or take a night ride with thousands of bicyclists? What about joining citizen scientists to study urban bats or stare at the stars (not the ones in Hollywood)?

LAist prepared a handy guide to help visitors and locals alike make the most of our summer nightlife.

Gear up with citizen scientists

Yuma myotis is another possible bat candidate and one of the bats recorded in the Backyard Bat Survey.

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The Natural History Museum of L.A. County conducts its annual Bat Roost Count, a community led science project where teams study bat roosts and give biologists, policymakers and activists information about bat populations and activity in the region.

Registration is open for those 14 and older. You need to RSVP to join the June 13 survey or the June 14 survey. If you miss out on June, you can register for the July survey in August.

For families, the museum plans to offer separate bat roost events sometime in August or September. People of all ages will be able to learn about bats, roosting behavior, watch a bat and learn how scientists are studying them. Those interested should fill out a form for details.

Concerts in the cemetery 

The sun sets at the Hollywood Forever cemetery on Dec. 4, 2025.

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Hollywood Forever is one of the most iconic cemeteries in the world and it’s more than just a resting place for the famous. The sprawling 60-acre grounds also host cultural events, film screenings and evening concerts. Big names such as Olivia Rodrigo, Tame Impala and Lana Del Rey have performed at the cemetery.

Check out their events here.

Star parties above L.A.

Grab a flashlight and go on a night hike in Griffith Park.

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The Griffith Observatory is considered one of the most visited public observatories on the planet and offers plenty of things to do for night owls.

Once a month, the Observatory partners with local telescope groups and hosts a Star Party. Dozens of telescopes set-up on the lawn and the observatory says there’s always something to see. Check out the dates here.

If you can’t make a Star Party, the observatory is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The observatory is closed on Mondays.

You can also catch other evening events here.

L.A.’s Critical Mass 

Cyclists gather for the monthly Critical Mass rides in Koreatown on Nov 8th, 2025.

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The LA Local

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Join thousands of bikers in one of the largest community bicycle rides in the U.S. The evening ride happens on the last Friday of every month on the corner of Western and Wilshire. Check the routes, they change each month.

Aboard the Queen Mary

The Queen Mary is lit at night on Nov. 2, 2025 in Long Beach.

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Los Angeles Times

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At sunset the Queen Mary in Long Beach provides a host of spooky experiences. The ship is rumored to be haunted and there are tours and ship walks to investigate the claim.

The cheapest ticket is the Haunted Encounters Tour with general admission costs around $58 with Graveyard Tours starting at $89.

VIP Tours are also available starting at around $200.

View the times and dates here.