Justice Dept. Calls SF Illegal on Immigration; City Attorney Unshaken

The Justice Department Targets California

The Justice Department has turned its attention to California, one of 13 states facing potential legal action over policies that limit cooperation with immigration authorities. These policies, often referred to as "sanctuary city" initiatives, have been a focal point for the Trump administration, which has consistently criticized such measures.

David Chiu, San Francisco City Attorney, remarked on the ongoing conflict, stating, "It's not a surprise. Donald Trump and the Trump administration has been coming after so-called sanctuary cities since his first term. We had to litigate this issue successfully during Trump 1.0, from his early days of his second administration he has again been doubling down his threats to so-called sanctuary cities."

In April, the President signed an executive order claiming that "some state and local officials nevertheless continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws." This order specifically named several cities, including San Francisco, as part of the broader crackdown on sanctuary policies.

Chiu, who is currently suing the Trump administration, remains undeterred. "There is nothing that San Francisco is doing that is interfering or otherwise getting in the way of lawful federal immigration enforcement," he said. "But there is nothing in the law that allows this administration to grab our local law enforcement resources and deputize our cops as ICE agents."

According to the latest census, there are approximately 44,000 undocumented immigrants living in San Francisco. City officials emphasize the importance of ensuring these individuals are aware of available resources. Jorge Rivas, executive director of the SF Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs, explained, "We encourage folks to connect with trusted community organizations, making sure they understand what's actually happening in their communities and getting access to those resources if they are not coming to the city."

The Department of Justice has made it clear that it will continue to pursue litigation against jurisdictions deemed to be sanctuary cities. In a letter, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, "The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions."

While San Francisco is listed as a sanctuary city, other Bay Area cities like San Jose have opted out of the label. Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose expressed relief at being excluded from the list. "We have ICE and other federal agencies that make sure that you comply with federal immigration law," he said. "Our police department locally doesn't carry out that function because we're not federal law enforcement."

Mahan further clarified the city's stance, emphasizing that San Jose's priority is enforcing local crime, regardless of an individual's immigration status. "I don't use the term sanctuary. We don't have a sanctuary policy in San Jose, because some for some people the implication is that we're providing sanctuary to people who may be committing other crimes. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you're committing crime in San Jose, we'll enforce it locally, whether you're documented or undocumented."

The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding for jurisdictions considered sanctuary cities. Chiu noted that San Francisco receives close to $4 billion in federal funding, with all of it potentially at risk. "Our policy is legal and it is constitutional," he said.

For now, Chiu maintains that nothing has changed for the city. As the legal battle continues, the implications for sanctuary cities across the country remain significant.