HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Justice has declared California’s sanctuary law unconstitutional, declaring support for a local lawsuit seeking to overturn the state measure that restricts law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration officials. The announcement was made by the department on Tuesday, as it files a statement of interest in the ongoing legal battle initiated by Huntington Beach.
In a news release, Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized that California’s law creates significant challenges for local jurisdictions wishing to engage in immigration enforcement. She cited recent incidents of violence in Los Angeles to underscore the potential risks posed by laws that hinder immigration enforcement, stating that such measures jeopardize the safety of both federal agents and citizens.
Leaders in Huntington Beach declared their city a “non-sanctuary city” earlier this year and subsequently launched a lawsuit in federal court against the state, contesting the California Values Act, known as SB 54. This legislation, passed in 2017, limits the extent to which state and local resources can be utilized to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The Justice Department’s statement requests that the court favor Huntington Beach’s position, asserting that the California Values Act infringes upon the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Justice Department attorneys argue that the law impedes law enforcement agencies from facilitating the transfer of convicted criminals to federal custody in a secure manner, thus forcing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to apprehend individuals in communities, exacerbating risks to public safety.
Huntington Beach previously attempted to challenge the California Values Act in 2018, but the suit was unsuccessful. Similarly, the Trump Administration also rejected a bid to challenge the law through the courts during the same year.
Former City Attorney Michael Gates left Huntington Beach earlier this year for a role within the Justice Department’s civil rights division in Washington, D.C.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta responded to the renewed challenge by reinforcing the importance of SB 54, which he views as a measure aimed at enhancing public safety and fostering trust between law enforcement and the community. He criticized Huntington Beach’s lawsuit as a misguided attempt to refocus resources on federal immigration enforcement instead of fulfilling the vital responsibilities of local governance.
The California Attorney General’s office has filed a motion to dismiss Huntington Beach’s lawsuit, which is scheduled for a hearing in August.
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