California pushes back on federal rule challenging sanctuary state law
Migrants surrender to the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the border wall from Mexico near Campo, California, about 50 miles from San Diego, in 2024. File photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
May 25 (UPI) -- Federal officials are considering removing undocumented immigrants in California custody as an attempt to undermine the state's sanctuary law.
"Operation Guardian Angel" is intended to "neutralize" sanctuary state rules, U.S. Atty. Bill Essaylie, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles explained.
The program employs federal resources at county jails and state prisons -- the places where federal officials say the sanctuary law impedes the work of immigration agents to take custody.
"These laws effectively render federal immigration detainers meaningless," Essaylie said. "While California may be presently disregarding detainers, it cannot ignore federal arrest warrants."
An immigration detainer allows local law enforcement agencies to detain people for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release to allow for a transfer to federal custody.
Despite federal efforts to weaken the sanctuary law, local officials have said they will continue to enforce it and protect immigrants whom "Operation Guardian Angel" targets.
"This is just another scare tactic to get us to follow this authoritarian agenda, but it's not going to work," Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez said.
Essaylie's office identifies people with criminal records who have been deported and charges them with a federal crime if they re-enter the United States.
California officials have said they already cooperate with federal agents with regards to undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.
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