S.D. Cal. · ImmigrationFY2018–FY2025
Districts › Southern District of California
Immigration in the Southern District of California
S.D. Cal. · Ninth Circuit · Immigration nationally
The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.
§ 1Length of prison terms
Interquartile range 2–12 months; mean 9. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).
§ 2Summary
11,983 immigration offences were sentenced in the Southern District of California across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 1,388 of them in FY2025; that is 45% of the district's caseload.
The median prison term was 6 months, close to the national median for immigration offences (6 months) and shorter than the Ninth Circuit median (7). Half of prison terms fell between 2 and 12 months; 96% of cases carried a prison term.
21% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 62%); 75% were below the range on a government motion and 4% below it for other reasons.
FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (1,388 against 2,146). The median prison term in FY2025 (4 months) was shorter than in FY2018 (6 months).
These are aggregates of past cases. The guideline range for any case depends on its offence level, criminal history and statutory minimums, and the sentence on the court's findings; no figure here estimates an outcome.
§ 3Position relative to the guideline range
Within guideline range 21%Above range 1%Below range, government sponsored 75%Below range, other 4%Not determinable 19
§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation
| Measure | S.D. Cal., immigration | S.D. Cal., all offences | 9th Cir., immigration | US, immigration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases per fiscal year | 1,498 | 3,295 | 5,132 | 22,153 |
| Share of district caseload | 45.5% | 100% | — | — |
| Median prison months | 6 | 15 | 7 | 6 |
| Mean prison months | 9 | 24 | — | 11 |
| Cases with a prison term | 96% | 95% | 95% | 95% |
| Within guideline range | 21% | 15% | 31% | 62% |
| Above range | 1% | 1% | 0% | 3% |
| Below range, government sponsored | 75% | 79% | 65% | 25% |
| Below range, other | 4% | 5% | 4% | 11% |
| Median final offence level | 12 | 17 | — | 10 |
§ 5Trend by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 2,146 | 94% | 6 | 21% | 74% | 4% | 1% |
| FY2019 | 2,451 | 96% | 6 | 23% | 72% | 4% | 1% |
| FY2020 | 1,827 | 93% | 6 | 17% | 77% | 5% | — |
| FY2021 | 726 | 96% | 8 | 15% | 84% | — | — |
| FY2022 | 1,103 | 99% | 12 | 17% | 79% | 3% | — |
| FY2023 | 1,261 | 98% | 8 | 11% | 86% | 3% | — |
| FY2024 | 1,081 | 96% | 6 | 20% | 77% | 2% | — |
| FY2025 | 1,388 | 97% | 4 | 38% | 60% | 2% | — |
§ 6Criminal history
Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: immigration offences nationally.
§ 7Guidelines applied
- §none · 5,333 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2L1.2 Unlawfully entering or remaining in the United States · 3,798 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2L1.1 Smuggling, transporting or harboring an unlawful alien · 3,323 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2L2.2 Fraudulently acquiring documents relating to naturalization or citizenship · 302 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2L2.1 Trafficking in a document relating to naturalization or citizenship · 21 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2X1.1 Attempt, solicitation or conspiracy (not covered by a specific guideline) · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
Primary guidelines the Commission associates with this offence type, with the district's caseload under each across all offence types.
§ 8Questions and answers
What is the typical sentence for immigration offences in the Southern District of California?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 6 months, with the middle half of terms between 2 and 12 months. 96% of cases carried a prison term. The national median for immigration offences is 6 months.
How often are immigration offences sentenced below the guideline range here?
75% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 4% below it for other reasons; 21% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.
How does this compare with the rest of the country?
Nationally, immigration offences had a median prison term of 6 months and a within-range share of 62% over the same period. The district's figures are close to on median term and lower than the national within-range share.
Which guidelines are involved?
The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2L1.2 and §2L1.1.
Is this a prediction for a particular case?
No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.
§ 9Other offence types in the Southern District of California
- Drug Trafficking 11,061
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 980
- Money Launder 676
- Firearms 372
- Prison Offenses 241
- Administration of Justice 164
- Child Pornography 149
- Environmental 116
- Assault 96
- Drug Possession 95
- Robbery 79
- Sex Abuse 78
§ 10Provenance
Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 17; district is CIRCDIST 68. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.