WASHINGTON, D.C. – America First Legal (AFL) is continuing its fight against California’s illegal alien sanctuary laws by adding a new plaintiff, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, to its ongoing lawsuit on behalf of the City of Huntington Beach against the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Robert Bonta.
“AFL is pleased to announce that Sheriff Chad Bianco has now joined the City of Huntington Beach in challenging California’s illegal alien sanctuary laws,” said James Rogers, America First Legal Senior Counsel.
“States do not have the power to overturn federal law. And under federal law, it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield illegal aliens. It is also a federal crime to prevent federal officials from discharging their duties. California’s sanctuary laws require local law enforcement to commit federal crimes. Those sanctuary laws also infringe the free speech rights of law enforcement officers by controlling what they’re allowed to say to the Department of Homeland Security. In this context, the legal violation is even clearer because federal law specifically gives local law enforcement officers the power to talk to DHS about the immigration status of individuals.
“AFL is proud to represent Sheriff Bianco in this important lawsuit to stop California from defying federal immigration laws and will continue to relentlessly defend our nation’s border security and protect American citizens,” said Rogers.
Background:
California’s illegal alien sanctuary laws effectively prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement authorities, unlawfully shield illegal aliens, and threaten public safety. To protect illegal aliens, the State directs local officials, including the Huntington Beach Police and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, to violate federal immigration and criminal statutes, including 8 U.S.C. §§ 1324, 18 U.S.C. §§ 4, 371, 372, and 1512, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The illegal alien sanctuary laws facially violate two federal statutes, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1373 and 1644, which specifically give authority to local officials to communicate with DHS about the immigration status of individuals.
Since California began passing sanctuary laws in 2017, tens of thousands of dangerous criminal illegal aliens have been released back into the community, and violent crime has surged nearly 20 percent across the state.
AFL’s Fight Against Sanctuary Jurisdictions:
Under President Biden, AFL fought persistently to protect American citizens from the Biden-Harris Administration’s open borders and its brazen, contemptible, and unprecedented assault on our immigration laws. Today, AFL continues that fight by targeting unlawful sanctuary jurisdictions across the country.
- In February 2025, AFL stepped up to defend Adams County, Washington, against the unlawful and abusive effort by Washington state officials to enforce illegal and dangerous sanctuary laws and policies and compel Adams County to violate federal immigration laws.
- In December 2024, AFL sent letters to elected officials in sanctuary jurisdictions across the country, including California AG Robert Bonta, warning them of the legal consequences they could face for interfering with or impeding federal immigration enforcement and for concealing, harboring, or shielding illegal aliens.
- In December 2024, AFL created Sanctuary Strongholds, a resource providing the American people with the information they need to track sanctuary jurisdictions and hold the elected officials responsible for them accountable.
- In September 2024, AFL launched an investigation into the expansion of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) into major cities, revealing how unlawful sanctuary policies and the elected officials who impose them are actively shielding criminal illegal aliens and endangering U.S. citizens.
Accountability is coming. AFL will continue fighting illegal alien sanctuary policies throughout America that protect criminal illegal aliens, destroy communities, and harm American citizens.
Read the amended complaint here.
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Photo Credit: Adobe Stock / Matt Gush
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