The U.S. Department of Justice has requested sheriff departments in major California counties to provide lists of non-citizen inmates, detailing their crimes and release dates. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the administration's priority to remove criminal illegal aliens and suggested cooperation with local sheriffs. The DOJ indicated it would use subpoenas if sheriffs do not comply willingly. In contrast, cities like Oakland have adopted sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, while Alameda County maintains a zero-contact policy with immigration officials.
Removing criminal illegal aliens is this Administration's highest priority. I look forward to cooperating with California's county sheriffs to accomplish our shared duty of keeping Californians and all Americans safe and secure.
The DOJ hopes the California sheriffs will voluntarily produce the information, but threatens that it will pursue all available means of obtaining the data, including through subpoenas or other compulsory process.
Oakland declared itself a 'refuge' for immigrants in 1986 and adopted a formal sanctuary city ordinance in 2019. Alameda County calls itself a 'welcoming community.'
Sheriff's deputies in Alameda County maintain a 'zero-contact policy' with immigration officials and do not comply with administrative warrants, but do honor criminal warrants signed by a judge.
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