(NewsNation) — The U.S. Department of Justice is reaching out to some of the largest counties in California, seeking information about inmates currently held there who are in the U.S. without legal status.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters to various sheriffs, requesting they provide the names of all individuals in their jails who are not U.S. citizens, detailing the offenses leading to their arrest or conviction, as well as their expected release dates.
These requests need to be fulfilled within 30 days and have been directed at multiple major California counties, notably including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If those counties fail to deliver the requested information within the month, Bondi and the DOJ have indicated they will resort to using all available means to acquire this information, which could involve subpoenas or other legal actions, as noted in the communication.
This Administration prioritizes the removal of criminal undocumented immigrants, Bondi stated. I am eager to collaborate with county sheriffs in California on our joint responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all Californians and Americans.
However, this request is expected to face significant resistance from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom. The state has implemented various sanctuary city policies across multiple jurisdictions that restrict collaboration with federal immigration agencies.
On July 11, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order to gather data regarding unlawful engagements undertaken by federal agencies within the city — specifically targeting which individuals were detained and the reasons for their detention.
Bass also aimed to enhance resources available for families of detainees or deported individuals and improve training for city departments to better handle future occurrences.
Earlier in June, protests erupted in Los Angeles, triggering a wave of national demonstrations against the immigration and deportation policies of the Trump administration, which critics argue have exceeded both moral and legal boundaries.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
To catch up on the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, check out NewsNation.
