Trump allies warn California leaders they could go to prison over sanctuary city laws
https://calmatters.org/justice/2024/12/sanctuary-cities-san-diego-letter/
Californias southern border, long ground zero in the fight between federal and local officials over immigration policy, is now at the center of renewed controversy over how far local leaders can go to protect people from deportation.
After San Diego County took steps earlier this month to strengthen safeguards for undocumented residents, an organization led by President-elect Donald Trumps adviser Stephen Miller sent a letter warning that elected leaders and employees of sanctuary jurisdictions could be criminally liable if they impede federal immigration enforcement.
In the Dec. 23 letter, America First Legal Foundation wrote: We have identified San Diego County as a sanctuary jurisdiction that is violating federal law.
The conservative legal nonprofit that day announced that it had identified 249 elected officials in sanctuary jurisdictions who it said could face legal consequences over immigration policies. The California Attorney Generals office and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass were sent similar letters.
The letter also suggests sanctuary city officials could be civilly liable under federal anti-racketeering laws.