California Attorney General Resists Trump's Threat to Charge Officials for Non-compliance with ICE
Rob Bonta, set to play a significant opposing role to the administration, described a recent immigration memo as a "scare tactic."
TroibNews 
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesday criticized a memo from the Trump administration that threatens prosecution of state and local officials who do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, labeling it a “scare tactic.”
“The President is attempting to intimidate and bully state and local law enforcement into carrying out his mass deportation agenda for him,” Bonta stated.
As a Democrat likely to be a leading opponent of the Trump administration, Bonta expressed his readiness to pursue legal action if the “vague threats turn to illegal action.” He has already participated in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's efforts to terminate birthright citizenship and has committed to enforcing a 2018 state law, SB 54, which restricts local law enforcement's collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields remarked that "radical Leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda."
In reaction to Bonta's remarks, Fields added, "These lawsuits are nothing more than an extension of the Left’s resistance — and the Trump Administration is ready to face them in court."
The U.S. Department of Justice memo, authored by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, does not specifically mention California’s sanctuary law but asserts that “federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands.”
In his counterstatement, Bonta highlighted that SB 54 successfully withstood a legal challenge from Trump in 2019.
“SB 54 does not prevent state and local law enforcement from investigating and prosecuting crimes,” Bonta emphasized. “Nor does it prevent federal agencies from conducting immigration enforcement themselves; what it says is that they cannot make us do their jobs for them.”
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
“The President is attempting to intimidate and bully state and local law enforcement into carrying out his mass deportation agenda for him,” Bonta stated.
As a Democrat likely to be a leading opponent of the Trump administration, Bonta expressed his readiness to pursue legal action if the “vague threats turn to illegal action.” He has already participated in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's efforts to terminate birthright citizenship and has committed to enforcing a 2018 state law, SB 54, which restricts local law enforcement's collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields remarked that "radical Leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda."
In reaction to Bonta's remarks, Fields added, "These lawsuits are nothing more than an extension of the Left’s resistance — and the Trump Administration is ready to face them in court."
The U.S. Department of Justice memo, authored by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, does not specifically mention California’s sanctuary law but asserts that “federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands.”
In his counterstatement, Bonta highlighted that SB 54 successfully withstood a legal challenge from Trump in 2019.
“SB 54 does not prevent state and local law enforcement from investigating and prosecuting crimes,” Bonta emphasized. “Nor does it prevent federal agencies from conducting immigration enforcement themselves; what it says is that they cannot make us do their jobs for them.”
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
