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America First Legal, a nonprofit run by 's incoming deputy chief of staff for policy , has written to local elected officials in California and elsewhere warning them they could be personally "criminally liable" if they refuse to support federal government efforts to detain and deport illegal migrants.
In total 249 officials across the United States received letters from America First Legal, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Los Angeles Mayor and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell. Appearing on , Trump's incoming "border czar," warned officials that to "knowingly conceal or harbor an illegal alien" from police is a felony, meaning it can be punished by over a year in prison.
Newsweek contacted America First Legal and California Gov. for comment on Saturday outside of regular office hours via online contact form and email respectively. When approached for comment a spokesperson for Trump's presidential transition team referred Newsweek to America First Legal.
During the 2024 presidential election campaign Trump pledged a major crackdown on illegal immigration, with his spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later he would "institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history." In November Trump said he would declare a national emergency and deploy the military as part of his deportation plans.
However, Trump is likely to face fierce resistance from and metropolises that have declared themselves to be "sanctuary cities," meaning they won't use their resources to support immigration enforcement.
According to a America First Legal "notified 249 elected officials in sanctuary jurisdictions of the legal consequences triggered by interfering with or impeding federal law enforcement and for intentionally concealing, harboring, or shielding illegal aliens." It added that "any person who violates these laws" would put themselves at risk of personal legal action.
In its letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta America First Legal said: "As Attorney General, on December 4, 2024, you stated that the State of California will not enforce federal immigration laws, encouraging defiance by all California jurisdictions.
"This rhetoric illustrates the State's intent to blatantly violate federal law. Such lawlessness subjects you and your subordinates to significant risk of criminal and civil liability. Accordingly, we are sending this letter to put you on notice of this risk and insist that you comply with our nation's laws."
James Rogers, America First Legal's senior counsel, said: "Federal law is clear: illegal aliens are subject to removal from the country, and it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield them...The officials in charge of sanctuary jurisdictions have no excuse and must be held accountable."
n a statement Bonta described the letters as "a scare tactic, plain and simple" and highlighted California Bill 54, which was passed in 2017 to prohibit state and local authorities from assisting immigration authorities.
He said: "While we are unable to comment on the specifics 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 narrow exceptions."
Speaking to The Los Angeles Times a spokesperson for Mayor Bass said America First Legal was "wrong on public safety and wrong on the law." They added: "We will always act in the best interests of the people of Los Angeles."
Once Trump begins attempting to implement his deportation program, after his inauguration on January 20, the incoming president is likely to face fierce opposition and a reluctance to cooperate from Democratic-run states and sanctuary cities.
They would likely trigger a succession of legal battles pitting federal power over immigration enforcement against the rights of individual states and cities to control their own resources.
In total 249 officials across the United States received letters from America First Legal, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Los Angeles Mayor and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell. Appearing on , Trump's incoming "border czar," warned officials that to "knowingly conceal or harbor an illegal alien" from police is a felony, meaning it can be punished by over a year in prison.
Newsweek contacted America First Legal and California Gov. for comment on Saturday outside of regular office hours via online contact form and email respectively. When approached for comment a spokesperson for Trump's presidential transition team referred Newsweek to America First Legal.
During the 2024 presidential election campaign Trump pledged a major crackdown on illegal immigration, with his spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later he would "institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history." In November Trump said he would declare a national emergency and deploy the military as part of his deportation plans.
However, Trump is likely to face fierce resistance from and metropolises that have declared themselves to be "sanctuary cities," meaning they won't use their resources to support immigration enforcement.
According to a America First Legal "notified 249 elected officials in sanctuary jurisdictions of the legal consequences triggered by interfering with or impeding federal law enforcement and for intentionally concealing, harboring, or shielding illegal aliens." It added that "any person who violates these laws" would put themselves at risk of personal legal action.
In its letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta America First Legal said: "As Attorney General, on December 4, 2024, you stated that the State of California will not enforce federal immigration laws, encouraging defiance by all California jurisdictions.
"This rhetoric illustrates the State's intent to blatantly violate federal law. Such lawlessness subjects you and your subordinates to significant risk of criminal and civil liability. Accordingly, we are sending this letter to put you on notice of this risk and insist that you comply with our nation's laws."
James Rogers, America First Legal's senior counsel, said: "Federal law is clear: illegal aliens are subject to removal from the country, and it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield them...The officials in charge of sanctuary jurisdictions have no excuse and must be held accountable."
n a statement Bonta described the letters as "a scare tactic, plain and simple" and highlighted California Bill 54, which was passed in 2017 to prohibit state and local authorities from assisting immigration authorities.
He said: "While we are unable to comment on the specifics 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 narrow exceptions."
Speaking to The Los Angeles Times a spokesperson for Mayor Bass said America First Legal was "wrong on public safety and wrong on the law." They added: "We will always act in the best interests of the people of Los Angeles."
Once Trump begins attempting to implement his deportation program, after his inauguration on January 20, the incoming president is likely to face fierce opposition and a reluctance to cooperate from Democratic-run states and sanctuary cities.
They would likely trigger a succession of legal battles pitting federal power over immigration enforcement against the rights of individual states and cities to control their own resources.
