The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday said California’s so-called sanctuary law that puts limits on local law enforcement assisting federal immigration officials is unconstitutional, filing a statement of interest in Huntington Beach’s lawsuit attempting to overturn the state law.
Related Articles
Bay Area cities called out in ‘sanctuary’ list find themselves in crosshairs of immigration standoff
Dozens of Bay Area cities land on list of ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’
Trump’s list of ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ includes some that support his immigration policies
Trump ramps up criminal charges against migrants in California
Bambi Larson murder case, which put San Jose’s sanctuary policy on public trial, in limbo
“California’s existing state law is designed to interfere with local jurisdictions that want to carry out immigration enforcement,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a news release. “As this week’s violence in Los Angeles demonstrates, the safe administration of immigration enforcement is both paramount and under threat — laws that undermine immigration enforcement at great risk to agents and citizens must not stand.”
Huntington Beach leaders declared the town a “non-sanctuary city” in January and then sued the state in federal court, challenging the California Values Act, or SB 54. The 2017 law places restrictions on the use of state and local resources to assist federal immigration enforcement.
The DOJ’s statement asks that the court rule in favor of Huntington Beach’s suit. The California Values Act violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Justice Department attorneys argue.
“By prohibiting (law enforcement agencies) from ensuring the safe transfer of criminals from state to federal custody in the secure environment of detention facilities, the (California Values Act) has left ICE no choice but to arrest those criminals in neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles, putting agents and detainees alike at higher risk,” attorneys wrote in the court filing.
Huntington Beach unsuccessfully sued the state in 2018 over the California Values Act. The first Trump Administration also unsuccessfully challenged the law in court in 2018.
Former City Attorney Michael Gates, earlier this year, left Huntington Beach for a job in the Justice Department’s civil rights division in Washington, D.C.
“California made a choice when it passed SB 54: To use our resources to protect public safety and to maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement earlier this month. “But instead of focusing on this vital responsibility, Huntington Beach is attempting to relitigate settled law in a misguided attempt to divert its limited resources to federal immigration enforcement. I respectfully urge the court to dismiss this meritless lawsuit.”
The California Attorney General’s office has filed a motion to dismiss Huntington Beach’s lawsuit, which is set to be heard in August.