WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a significant development, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a statement of interest in federal court supporting America First Legal (AFL) and its clients, the City of Huntington Beach and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, in their legal challenge to California’s unlawful sanctuary laws. On March 5, 2025, AFL began representing Huntington Beach in its lawsuit against the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Robert Bonta, seeking to end the state’s illegal sanctuary laws. On May 2, 2025, AFL added Sheriff Bianco as a plaintiff in the case.
This case arises from Governor Newsom’s efforts to force Huntington Beach and Sheriff Bianco to violate California Penal Code §§ 31 and 32, which prohibit “aiding and abetting” and serving as an “accessory after the fact” in harboring, concealing, or protecting individuals who have committed federal crimes. DOJ’s filing underscores the Trump Administration’s support for the plaintiffs’ position in this pivotal case.
The statement of interest, filed on June 17, 2025, explains that California’s primary sanctuary law, the so-called “California Values Act” (CVA), unlawfully interferes with federal immigration enforcement and violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The statement also details how the CVA led to recent riots in Los Angeles because it prevented law enforcement from safely transferring criminals to federal custody. As a result, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was forced to carry out arrests in neighborhoods, which violent agitators seized as a pretext for riots, looting, and attacks on law enforcement officers.
DOJ’s statement further contends that the CVA unlawfully discriminates against federal immigration authorities and significantly hinders their ability to perform their duties. It “actively seeks to frustrate federal enforcement of immigration laws” by prohibiting local law enforcement from “doing exactly what the immigration laws contemplate: cooperating with the federal government to help enforce federal law — such as by sharing critical information with federal immigration authorities.” In other words, the statement argues something that should already be obvious: states cannot regulate the constitutional activities of the federal government.
“We are grateful for the federal government’s support for America First Legal and the plaintiffs in this case in their fight against California’s illegal sanctuary laws,” said James Rogers, Senior Counsel at America First Legal. “This decisive action highlights the Administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that federal immigration laws are enforced without obstruction. America First Legal will continue to fight to keep our borders secure and ensure that our Nation’s immigration laws are respected.”
Read the statement of interest here.
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Photo Credit / Adobe Stock: Nicholas
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