Attorney General Bonta Rebukes Trump’s Latest Attempt to Bully California into Assisting with Federal Government’s Draconian Mass Deportation Agenda

OAKLAND -California Attorney General Rob Bonta yesterday sent a letter to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche addressing the U.S. Department of Justice's (U.S. DOJ) most recent attempt to bully California's state and local governments into assisting the federal government in its draconian civil immigration enforcement agenda. U.S. DOJ recently sent a letter to state and local governments that applied for Office of Justice Programs grants, requiring them to certify their compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373 and implying that California law violates 8 U.S.C. § 1373. This implication flies in the face of multiple court decisions rejecting the Trump Administration's expansive view of 8 U.S.C. § 1373 and affirming that California law does not conflict with this federal immigration statute.

In his response, Attorney General Bonta demands that U.S. DOJ rescind its communications and warns that the California Department of Justice is ready to take legal action if U.S. DOJ takes any adverse action against state and local agencies on this basis.

"The Trump Administration is threatening to withhold critical public safety grants - again - if state and local agencies don't assist it with its draconian mass deportation agenda," said Attorney General Bonta. "While the President may not agree with California's policy choices, he cannot bully us into making different decisions. Multiple courts have upheld California's pro-public safety, pro-community trust laws. I demand Acting Attorney General Blanche walk back this letter. We won't let public safety grants become political bargaining chips."