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Cali Sheriff Bucks Sanctuary State Mandate, Complies with ICE Subpoena

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The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has decided to reject California state sanctuary policy, announcing this week that it will provide the records of criminally arrested illegal immigrants to federal authorities.

An official statement indicated Thursday that the department will be the first local or state law enforcement agency to comply with a slew of recent administrative subpoenas issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in five sanctuary states, including Colorado, Connecticut, New York and Oregon, The Associated Press reported.

According to Sheriff William Gore’s statement, however, the decision was not political, nor did it have anything to do with willful “cooperation.”

Instead, it was a conclusion reached out of “obligation” to the rule of law.

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“A federal subpoena creates a mandatory legal obligation and is not ‘cooperation.’ The disobedience of a lawfully issued subpoena can be punishable by contempt of federal court,” Gore wrote, revealing federal authorities had requested the arrest and jail records of four specific individuals apparently suspected of immigration violations.

“The information requested by the subpoenas relates to the providing of documents, not honoring detainers and transferring individuals to ICE. These subpoenas deal only with records and information,” the statement read. “As such, the Sheriff’s Department is legally obligated to provide these records and will be doing so under that obligation.”

The department did clarify that it does not generally coordinate or cooperate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or its enforcement arms, as it is prevented from doing so by the California Values Act.

Is the Trump administration doing enough to combat sanctuary policies?

Signed into law in October 2017, Democratic Senate Bill No. 54 effectively prohibits local and state law enforcement agencies from voluntarily using resources or manpower to aid DHS in enforcing federal immigration law. It made California the first official “sanctuary state.”

The bill does not, however, provide guidance on local and state response to lawfully issued federal subpoenas.

Questions have since been raised as to the legal backing behind ICE‘s most recent slew of administrative subpoenas, which the AP reported were signed by an unnamed immigration official rather than a federal judge.

Regardless, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Robert Brewer reportedly told the AP that Gore’s department has already complied with two of the four subpoenas issued. The remaining two are due next week.

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The announcement comes close on the heels of recent attempts by the Trump administration to tamp down more strongly on major sanctuary cities and states.

Traveling out West for a four-day trip this week, the president spoke strongly regarding the issue of local cooperation with immigration enforcement at a series of rallies, news events and even the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics preparations briefing.

“I think it’s terrible,” Trump told reporters at the Tuesday briefing. “I think sanctuary cities, as you know, are very dangerous. You just look at some of the horrific crimes that are committed — that wouldn’t happen if you didn’t have sanctuary for criminals.

“With L.A., San Francisco and other places,” the president added. “They have one thing in common: the leadership. There’s no reason that this should have ever happened.”

Unable after roughly three years to force compliance with federal law enforcement in some of the nation’s most vehement illegal immigrant sanctuaries, the Trump administration signaled last week that DHS would be mobilizing more than 100 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol tactical operators to carry out necessary raids without local support.

The Department of Justice has also moved this month to file lawsuits against the states of California, New Jersey and Washington, seeking court rulings on the legality of federally funded local and state agencies refusing compliance and cooperation with federal enforcement efforts, The New York Times reported.

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Andrew J. Sciascia was the supervising editor of features at The Western Journal. Having joined up as a regular contributor of opinion in 2018, he went on to cover the Barrett confirmation and 2020 presidential election for the outlet, regularly co-hosting its video podcast, "WJ Live," as well.
Andrew J. Sciascia was the supervising editor of features at The Western Journal and regularly co-hosted the outlet's video podcast, "WJ Live."

Sciascia first joined up with The Western Journal as a regular contributor of opinion in 2018, before graduating with a degree in criminal justice and political science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper and worked briefly as a political operative with the Massachusetts Republican Party.

He covered the Barrett confirmation and 2020 presidential election for The Western Journal. His work has also appeared in The Daily Caller.




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