California Governor Gavin Newsom's scathing criticism of recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations has triggered intense pushback from federal officials. The Democratic governor's characterization of the raids as indiscriminate and cruel has been challenged by ICE representatives and other observers.

According to Breitbart, Newsom published an op-ed in Fox News Digital on Tuesday condemning the ICE operations in Southern California, describing scenes of agents "jumping out of unmarked vans" and "indiscriminately grabbing people off the street." The governor's portrayal of these events, however, has been contested by Department of Homeland Security officials who insist the operations were targeted against specific criminal enterprises.

The conflicting narratives highlight the deepening political divide over immigration enforcement under President Trump's administration, with both sides accusing the other of misrepresentation and political theater.

Disputed Case of Pregnant Woman Draws Attention

One specific incident mentioned by Newsom involved a pregnant woman allegedly detained during the raids. The governor claimed a "woman, 9 months pregnant, was arrested in LA" and "had to be hospitalized after being released."

This reference appears to be about Cary López Alvarado, a 28-year-old American citizen who was arrested in Hawthorne. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin clarified that López Alvarado was detained because she "obstructed federal law enforcement by blocking access to a car that had two Guatemalan illegal aliens in it," not because of her immigration status.

According to reports, López Alvarado was released the same day and received medical monitoring after complaining of stomach pain. This account differs significantly from the implication that she was indiscriminately targeted and suffered severe medical consequences.

Targeted Operations vs. Mass Deportations

Newsom characterized the ICE operations as "mass deportations" aimed at "hardworking immigrant families" rather than individuals with serious criminal records. He suggested the raids were designed to meet quotas rather than address legitimate security concerns.

DHS officials countered this narrative by confirming that those arrested included individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, including convicted rapists, drug traffickers, and human smugglers. The department emphasized that the operations were not random roundups.

Television host Dr. Phil McGraw, who reported from ICE's Los Angeles headquarters during the operations, stated that the "primary" business targeted was a clothing company "suspected of involvement in criminal activity." According to McGraw, the operations were conducted with proper federal search warrants as part of larger investigations into money laundering, tax evasion, and customs fraud.

National Guard Deployment Sparks Constitutional Debate

Newsom's criticism extended to President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to contain protests and riots that erupted following the ICE operations. The governor claimed Trump "illegally commandeered 4,000 of our state's National Guard members" without request or input from state leadership.

The governor portrayed this action as an unconstitutional federal overreach, warning that "California may be first, but it won't be the last" state to experience such intervention. He characterized the deployment as a betrayal of American traditions and democratic principles.

The Trump administration has defended the deployment as necessary to restore order following violent demonstrations that resulted in injured law enforcement officers, looted businesses, and property destruction. This disagreement underscores longstanding tensions over federal versus state authority in managing public safety and immigration enforcement.

Political Confrontations Escalate Tensions

The immigration enforcement debate has intensified following several high-profile incidents involving Democratic lawmakers. Newsom referenced Senator Alex Padilla's forceful removal from a DHS press conference and the arrests of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Representative LaMonica McIver at an ICE facility.

DHS defended the Secret Service's handling of Senator Padilla, stating he "chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself" as he approached Secretary Kristi Noem. Officials noted that Padilla met with Noem after the incident.

While charges against Mayor Baraka were dropped, Rep. McIver still faces allegations of "assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement" during the same incident. Video footage reportedly shows McIver pushing law enforcement officers during the confrontation at the Delaney Hall ICE center.