California officials, along with dozens of others across the country, received letters this week from Stephen Miller’s nonprofit America First Legal, warning them of the consequences of disrupting or impeding illegal immigration enforcement.
Miller has been named deputy chief of staff for policy to President-elect Donald Trump. In a written statement, the nonprofit said it had sent 249 letters to elected officials in states and cities with sanctuary policies.
The officials who received the letters include Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas and California Atty. Including General Rob Bonta.
The letters, all dated December 23, state that people living in the country illegally are subject to removal and that it is a crime to hide, harbor or shield them.
“As Attorney General, on December 4, 2024, you declared that the State of California will not enforce federal immigration laws, encouraging resistance from all California jurisdictions,” the letter to Bonta reads in part. “…This rhetoric illustrates the state’s intent to blatantly violate federal law. Such lawlessness exposes you and your subordinates to a significant risk of criminal and civil liability. Accordingly, we are sending this letter to inform you of this risk and urge you to comply with the laws of our country.”
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“The fact is that you and the other officials who support or enforce sanctuary laws, policies and regulations have a very personal interest in the matter – all of you could face criminal charges and civil liability for your illegal actions,” the letter said. concludes.
The announcements come as Trump’s new “border czar” is in place, Tom Homan, former acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, suggested. Fox News that city officials who do not assist the government in deporting people living in the country illegally could face criminal charges.
“If you knowingly conceal or harbor an illegal alien from a police officer, that is a crime,” he said. “Obstructing a federal law enforcement officer is a criminal offense, so don’t cross that line. We have a strong one [attorney general] comes in, Pam Bondi, and we’re going to file these charges, so you know, don’t test us.
Bonta issued a statement Friday calling the threats “a scare tactic, plain and simple.”
The statement goes on to say that California lawmakers passed Senate Bill 54 in 2017 to ensure that state and local resources are not used to assist with federal immigration enforcement.
“While we cannot comment on the details of the letter, we want to be clear: SB 54 was upheld by the courts during the first Trump administration and it prevents the use of state and local resources for federal immigration enforcement with certain limited resources . exceptions,” the statement said. “However, SB 54 does nothing to prevent federal agencies from conducting immigration enforcement themselves. California will continue to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, and we expect all local law enforcement agencies to do the same.”
Zachary Seidl, a spokesman for Bass, said the letter is “wrong on public safety and wrong on the law.”
“We will always act in the best interests of the people of Los Angeles,” Seidl said.
Bass has expressed support for a “sanctuary city” law recently passed by the LA City Council that bans city employees and resources from being involved in federal immigration enforcement.
The law won’t stop the federal government from carrying out mass deportations in the city, but it is intended to signal City Hall’s support for Los Angeles’ large immigrant population.
Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
