LA County Sheriff Responds to DOJ Data Request on Non-Citizen Inmates Amid Sanctuary Laws

DOJ Data Request and Sheriff Luna's Stance

• 🏛️ The Department of Justice (DOJ) is increasing pressure on California sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
• ⚖️ LA County Sheriff Robert Luna reaffirmed his department's commitment to following state sanctuary laws, despite federal demands.
• 😟 This situation is causing concern in local communities due to perceived cooperation between the LA Sheriff's Department and ICE.

Sheriff's Department's Position on Cooperation

• ❓ Sheriff Luna stated that the department does not ask for immigration status, making it difficult to provide lists of non-citizen inmates to federal agencies.
• 🚫 California law prohibits cooperation with federal immigration authorities except in very limited circumstances.
• 🤝 The Sheriff's office will only transfer individuals into ICE custody if presented with a federal judicial warrant signed by a judge.

Legal Interpretations and Previous Actions

• 📜 USC Law Professor Jean Rees explains that jails are not obligated to make it easy for ICE but cannot withhold information directly related to an inmate's immigration status or citizenship.
• 🚫 Sheriff Luna denied nearly 1,000 detainer requests last year but has handed over 20 inmates to immigration based on federal warrants in the past two months.
• ⚠️ Most individuals transferred had serious or violent charges, including attempted murder, robbery, rape, and battery.

California Attorney General's Response

• 📢 California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the DOJ cannot bully local law enforcement and will not allow for the wholesale notification to the DOJ of individuals housed in county jails.