Gavin Newsom Criticizes ICE Arrests of Tren de Aragua Gang Member Near Redistricting Announcement, Targets Trump and Tom Homan

California Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference in downtown Los Angeles to announce the state’s new redistricting plans, which he termed the “Election Rigging Response Act,” aimed at countering potential gerrymandering efforts by Texas Republicans. During the event, dozens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and U.S. Border Patrol officers conducted an immigration enforcement operation nearby, including the arrest of a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member with prior felony drug arrests and a deportation order from 2024. Newsom criticized the timing and location of the enforcement action, calling it "sick and pathetic" and accusing former President Donald Trump and ICE leadership, including Tom Homan, of using the arrests to intimidate and disrupt his event. Newsom described Trump as a "failed president" and suggested the enforcement was politically motivated amid ongoing election-related tensions. The presence of federal agents and the arrest near Newsom’s event drew attention from both supporters and critics, with ICE officials emphasizing their focus on enforcing the rule of law and removing criminal illegal aliens. The redistricting plan has sparked debate within California’s Democratic leadership and among opponents, highlighting the contentious political environment surrounding election laws and immigration enforcement.