The U.S. Justice Department sent letters to 23 states, cities and counties Wednesday threatening to subpoena records to determine whether the jurisdictions are interfering with enforcement of federal immigration laws.
“I continue to urge all jurisdictions under review to reconsider policies that place the safety of their communities and their residents at risk,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. “Protecting criminal aliens from federal immigration authorities defies common sense and undermines the rule of law. We have seen too many examples of the threat to public safety represented by jurisdictions that actively thwart the federal government’s immigration enforcement — enough is enough.”
The 23 jurisdictions have received requests for “any orders, directives, instructions, or guidance to your law enforcement employees” pertaining to policies toward undocumented immigrants taken into local custody. These same 23 jurisdictions have been accused of violating federal law by limiting communication and cooperation with members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement before. They include the state of California; the counties of Sacramento, Sonoma, and Monterey; and the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Fremont and Watsonville.
City officials across California reacted defiantly to the news.
"Let me be the first to get arrested," said Steven Hernandez, mayor of the ‘sanctuary city’ of Coachella in Riverside County. "We're going to do everything we can to defend our position."
Elsewhere, politicians spoke in favor of the Trump Administration’s ongoing crackdown.
"I would say, 'good luck'" to the cities being targeted, quipped Baron Browing of the Anderson City Council in Shasta County. He introduced an anti-sanctuary city measure adopted last year and has said his city will continue to cooperate with ICE.
The Trump Administration is still facing headwinds in the courts. Judges in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Chicago have all ruled against the administration in cases related its fight against sanctuary city policies. The Justice Department is appealing those decisions.
Read more about the latest fight at Politico and the Washington Post.