California’s southern border has always been a hotspot for debates about immigration policies. Now, it’s back in the spotlight as federal and local leaders clash again over how far communities can go to protect undocumented residents from deportation.
The latest uproar comes from San Diego County, which recently made new rules to shield undocumented immigrants. But this move didn’t sit well with America First Legal Foundation, an organization linked to Stephen Miller, one of Donald Trump’s advisers. The group sent a stern letter claiming that San Diego County’s policy violates federal laws. They even suggested that local leaders could face legal trouble for not cooperating with immigration authorities.
The letter, sent on December 23, declared San Diego County a “sanctuary jurisdiction” breaking federal law. It wasn’t just San Diego—California’s Attorney General and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received similar warnings. The foundation claimed these leaders might be held legally accountable under anti-racketeering laws, a serious accusation.
San Diego’s new policy, approved on December 12, takes California’s existing state “sanctuary” laws even further. Under the new rules, local law enforcement cannot share information about undocumented people in jails with immigration officials unless there’s a judicial warrant. The state’s current law already limits cooperation, but San Diego’s version is stricter. For instance, it stops jail staff from notifying federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about inmates unless they’ve committed a severe crime.
However, not everyone is on board. Sheriff Kelly Martinez, San Diego’s top law enforcement officer, announced she wouldn’t follow the new policy and would continue to allow immigration authorities access to jail inmates. This decision came despite the county’s efforts to strengthen immigrant protections.
The debate turned even more personal when Nora Vargas, the chair of San Diego’s Board of Supervisors, stepped down on December 22, citing security concerns. Vargas, a champion for immigrant rights and the first Latina immigrant to serve on the board, had just been re-elected to her position. She defended the new policy, emphasizing that it complies with federal, state, and local laws, adding that America was built on the contributions of immigrants.
On the other side, America First Legal’s letter insisted that federal law is clear—undocumented immigrants are subject to removal, and anyone obstructing federal immigration enforcement is breaking the law. Their stance reflects Trump’s promise to launch the “largest mass deportation campaign in U.S. history.”
California leaders are gearing up for a legal fight. The Attorney General’s office dismissed the letter as a scare tactic, pointing out that California’s sanctuary law, SB 54, has already been upheld in court. This law prevents local law enforcement from using their resources to enforce federal immigration policies, except in certain cases. Los Angeles, which recently fast-tracked its own sanctuary city ordinance, also pushed back. Mayor Karen Bass’s spokesperson called the claims “wrong on public safety and wrong on the law.”
State Senate leader Mike McGuire from Healdsburg criticized the proposed federal immigration policies as harmful to California’s economy. He reminded everyone that California had successfully fended off similar legal challenges during Trump’s previous term and vowed to do so again.
The tug-of-war over sanctuary policies isn’t new. In 2017, California passed its own sanctuary law, limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE. While state prisons continue to notify ICE about inmates, local police and sheriffs are restricted from doing so for minor offenses.
For Trump’s deportation plans to work, federal immigration authorities need local law enforcement’s help. According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, around 70-75% of ICE arrests happen because local agencies hand over individuals in their custody. In California, state prisons alone have transferred thousands of immigrants to ICE for deportation since 2019.
San Diego, which has seen a surge in unauthorized border crossings this year, remains at the heart of these debates. Earlier in 2024, the region experienced a spike in asylum seekers, with thousands crossing the border to surrender to U.S. authorities. While numbers dropped significantly after new asylum restrictions were introduced in June, the challenges of managing border crossings continue to strain local resources.
As the federal government prepares for more aggressive immigration policies under Trump’s leadership, California’s sanctuary cities are digging in their heels, ready for another round of legal battles. For now, the standoff continues, with both sides refusing to back down.
