California Attorney General Stands Against Trump's Threat to Prosecute Officials Resisting ICE
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stood firm against a memo from the Trump administration that warned of prosecuting state and local officials who resist federal immigration enforcement agents. Bonta criticized the memo as a ‘scare tactic’ aimed at coercing law enforcement to carry out mass deportations.
Legal Action Against Intimidation
As a Democrat and a vocal critic of the Trump administration, Bonta expressed readiness to take legal action if the threats materialize into illegal measures. He has already been involved in legal battles, including a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s move to end birthright citizenship and the enforcement of SB 54, a 2018 state law that restricts local law enforcement’s collaboration with immigration authorities.
White House Response
Responding to Bonta’s statements, White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields accused ‘radical Leftists’ of resisting the will of the people and urged cooperation with President Trump. Fields dismissed the lawsuits as part of the Left’s resistance movement.
However, Bonta emphasized that SB 54, which survived a legal challenge in 2019, does not hinder state and local law enforcement from pursuing criminal investigations. He clarified that the law does not obstruct federal agencies from conducting immigration enforcement but prohibits them from delegating their responsibilities to local authorities.
DOJ Memo and Bonta’s Stand
The U.S. Department of Justice memo, authored by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, emphasizes the obligation of state and local actors to comply with lawful immigration commands. Despite not directly referencing California’s sanctuary law, the memo underscores the requirement for cooperation with federal immigration directives.
In response, Bonta highlighted the resilience of SB 54 and reaffirmed that it does not impede law enforcement activities but rather ensures that local agencies are not compelled to undertake federal immigration tasks.
