California officials, along with dozens of others across the country, received a letter this week from Stephen Miller’s nonprofit America First Legal warning them of the consequences of obstructing or obstructing enforcement efforts against illegal immigration. Ta.
Miller has been appointed as President-elect Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy. In a written statement, the nonprofit said it has sent 249 letters to elected officials in states and cities with sanctuary policies.
Officials who received the letter include Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas, and California Atty. General Rob Bonta, etc.
The letters, both dated December 23, state that people in the country illegally are subject to deportation and that it is a crime to hide, harbor or shelter them.
“On December 4, 2024, as Attorney General, you stated that California would not enforce federal immigration laws and would encourage defiance by all California jurisdictions,” the letter to Bonta reads in part. It is written. “…this rhetoric demonstrates the state’s intent to blatantly violate federal law. Such illegal conduct places you and your subordinates at significant risk of criminal and civil liability.” Therefore, we are writing to inform you of this risk and urge you to comply with our laws.”
“The fact of the matter is that you and other officials who support or enforce sanctuary laws, policies, and regulations have a very personal stake in this matter. You may be subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability for your actions,” the letter states. I conclude.
The notice comes as President Trump’s next “border czar,” Tom Homan, a former acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said on Fox News that city officials who don’t cooperate with the administration will face criminal charges if they deport illegal aliens. This was done amid indications that this was a possibility. .
“If you knowingly hide or hide an illegal alien from a police officer, that’s a felony,” he said. “Obstructing a federal law enforcement officer is a felony, so don’t cross the line. Don’t try us because a powerful (Attorney General) named Pam Bondi is coming and we’re going to bring these prosecutions. .”
Bonta issued a statement Friday calling these threats “plain and simple intimidation tactics.”
The statement went on to say California lawmakers adopted Senate Bill 54 in 2017, which would prevent state and local resources from being used to support federal immigration enforcement.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of the letter, we want to be clear: SB 54 was upheld by courts during the first Trump administration, and requires state and local resources to be used for federal immigration enforcement in certain narrow areas.” “There are exceptions,” he said in a statement. “However, SB 54 does not prevent federal agencies from conducting immigration enforcement themselves. California will continue to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, and all local law enforcement agencies will continue to do the same.” I hope that you will take the following steps.”
Bass’s spokesman, Zachary Seidl, said the letter was “wrong on both public safety and legal grounds.”
“We will always act in the best interest of the people of Los Angeles,” Seidl said.
Bass expressed support for the Los Angeles City Council’s recently passed “sanctuary city” law, which prohibits city officials and employees from engaging in federal immigration enforcement.
The law would not stop the federal government from carrying out mass deportations in the city, but it is intended to show that City Hall stands by Los Angeles’ large immigrant population.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas, who recently announced that she would not seek a second term, said the board’s newly adopted policy of limiting the use of county resources for federal immigration enforcement is It was developed after careful legal consideration.” Full compliance with federal law. ”
In a statement to the Times, Vargas said: “We cannot allow community resources to be used in practices that separate families, undermine community trust, and divert critical resources from addressing our most pressing challenges. I will not allow it.” “Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, and our county will not be an instrument of policies that harm our residents.”
Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.
