California Cities Warned by Trump Advisor About Interfering with Immigration Enforcement
California officials and others across the country have been put on notice by Stephen Miller’s nonprofit, America First Legal, about the potential consequences of interfering with or obstructing illegal immigration enforcement. Miller, who has been appointed as President-elect Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, has sent out 249 letters to elected officials in states and cities with sanctuary policies. The recipients of these letters include prominent figures like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell, San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Warnings of Legal Consequences
The letters, all dated December 23, emphasize that individuals living in the country illegally are subject to removal and that concealing, harboring, or shielding them is considered a crime. The correspondence specifically calls out Attorney General Rob Bonta for his statement on December 4, 2024, where he declared that California would not enforce federal immigration laws, thereby encouraging defiance by all California jurisdictions.
Threats of Criminal Prosecution
The letters warn that officials supporting or enforcing sanctuary laws could face criminal prosecution and civil liability for their actions. Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar” and former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, further reiterated on Fox News that city officials impeding federal immigration enforcement might face criminal charges for their actions.
California Officials Respond
In response to these warnings, California lawmakers like Rob Bonta have dismissed the threats as mere scare tactics. Bonta highlighted that Senate Bill 54, adopted in 2017, prevents the use of state and local resources for federal immigration enforcement, with certain exceptions. He emphasized that California will continue to comply with all applicable laws, expecting the same from local law enforcement agencies.
Local Officials Stand Firm
City officials like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas have expressed their commitment to upholding sanctuary policies that prioritize public safety and community trust. They maintain that local resources should not be used for actions that harm residents or undermine critical services.
Zachary Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, reiterated that they will always prioritize the best interests of the people of Los Angeles, while Nora Vargas affirmed that San Diego County will not allow its resources to be used in ways that harm the community or separate families.
As this debate continues to unfold, the clash between federal and state immigration policies raises critical questions about the role of local officials in shaping immigration enforcement practices. The implications of these warnings from Stephen Miller’s nonprofit and the responses from California officials underscore the complex and contentious nature of immigration policy in the United States.