On her first day as the new U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi revived a Trump administration effort to withhold funding from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
In a memo, Bondi ordered a 60-day pause on the distribution of federal funds provided by the Department of Justice to sanctuary jurisdictions. She also ordered that the DOJ “not enter into any new contract, grant, or other agreement to provide Federal funding to non-governmental organizations that support or provide services, either directly or indirectly (e.g., through sub-contracting or other arrangements), to removable or illegal aliens.”
More than $1 billion in grants from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) would be affected by the terms of this memo. However, the order is likely to wind up in the courts. The DOJ tried a similar move during the first Trump administration and it was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In addition to the withholding of funds, Bondi ordered her department to investigate obstruction of law enforcement by sanctuary jurisdictions and their officials. She directed that these officials “be prosecuted, when necessary.”
California is considered a sanctuary state. Cities and counties that have declared sanctuary status include Alameda County; the City of Berkeley; Richmond; the City and County of Los Angeles; Monterey County; the City of Oakland; San Diego County; the City and County of San Francisco; San Mateo County; the City of Santa Ana; Santa Clara County; Santa Cruz County; the City of Watsonville; and others.