Trump Administration Seeks Immigration Data from California Law Enforcement

The Trump administration is requesting information about immigrant detainees from various law enforcement agencies in California, as sheriffs in both Los Angeles and San Francisco indicate they are unwilling to cooperate.

On Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a list to several sheriffs in major California counties, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. This list details non-US citizen inmates, the crimes they’re charged with or have committed, and their scheduled release dates. This move represents the ongoing tension between California officials and the Trump administration regarding immigration enforcement in the state’s well-known sanctuary areas.

The DOJ stated, “In recent years, the United States has suffered from illegal alien invasions on an unprecedented scale.” They continued, asserting that many undocumented individuals have committed serious crimes, including rape and murder. The current data request aims to assist federal immigration authorities in prioritizing the removal of those who have illegally entered the country and have also committed crimes.

California Attorney General Pam Bondy expressed a desire to collaborate with state officials on a “sharing obligation,” but she highlighted that to ensure safety at both local and national levels, the DOJ is prepared to utilize all available methods to gather the data, potentially including subpoenas.

However, the sheriff of Los Angeles County pointed out that California’s sanctuary laws and local policies prevent him from complying with the requests made by the Trump administration. Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized that the Sheriff’s Department is abiding by California Senate Bill 54, which limits local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration officials, except in very specific legal scenarios. “We will only transfer an individual to ICE custody if a federal judicial warrant is presented by a judge,” he said during a recent press event.

Similarly, San Francisco County Sheriff Paul Miyamoto stated his office is “not participating in civil immigration enforcement” and urged the federal government to procure a criminal warrant or court order instead of relying on local cooperation.

“My priorities are public safety, not politics. We are not here to instill fear in the immigrant community,” Miyamoto remarked.

This ongoing conflict over immigration enforcement between California and President Trump has persisted since his first term in office. In 2017, then-Governor Jerry Brown enacted SB54, which significantly restricts local and state law enforcement from collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trump administration had previously sued California over this law, arguing that federal law should supersede state law; however, the Supreme Court ultimately permitted the state law to remain in effect.

As the situation continues to evolve, it appears that pressure from the Trump administration on California’s policies regarding illegal immigrants is likely to remain a contentious issue. This tension has already led to significant protests, particularly in Los Angeles, as federal prosecutors pursue legal action against city laws perceived as anti-ICE.