Xavier Becerra Addresses San Diego Town Hall

Democratic candidate for governor Xavier Becerra criticized the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a town hall event in San Diego on April 30, 2026. The former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former California attorney general used the gathering at Balboa Park to address immigration enforcement and the political climate surrounding the agency.

The comments occurred amid a broader political conflict regarding the funding of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). On April 30, 2026, President Donald Trump signed legislation to fund much of the DHS, ending a record 75-day shutdown of the agency. However, the funding package notably excluded immigration enforcement operations, including ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol, due to Democratic opposition in Congress.

As I said at yesterday’s town hall in San Diego: we’ve had it.

Xavier Becerra

Becerra’s remarks were part of a campaign effort to connect with voters in San Diego as he seeks the governorship of California. According to reports from CBS 8, Becerra has seen a rise in polling, climbing to 13 percent in a recent CBS News poll. During the town hall, he pitched an affordability platform and addressed the concerns of the hundreds of attendees gathered at Balboa Park.

Context of the DHS Funding Dispute

The funding gap for ICE and Border Patrol follows a protracted budget battle in Washington. While the House of Representatives and the Senate eventually agreed on a bill to reopen key sectors of the DHS, such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the immigration components remained unfunded. This led to the longest agency shutdown in history.

Republicans in the House have since attempted to bypass Democratic opposition by adopting a Senate-approved budget resolution. This strategy aims to unlock funding for federal immigration agencies through the remainder of President Trump’s term, with the administration targeting a June deadline to fully restore operations at ICE and the Border Patrol.

Becerra’s Gubernatorial Campaign

Becerra’s focus on immigration and federal overreach is a central component of his bid for governor. His professional background includes service in the California legislature, a tenure as the state’s attorney general, and his most recent role as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under former President Joe Biden.

In addition to his critiques of federal immigration enforcement, Becerra has participated in several high-profile debates and interviews leading up to the June 2 primary. In a recent debate at Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium, he joined seven other candidates to discuss plans for increasing affordability within the state of California.