US Attorney Declares Los Angeles Not a Sanctuary City Under New Federal Program

Operation Guardian Angel Launched

• 🎯 Operation Guardian Angel is a new program initiated by the newly sworn-in U.S. Attorney for Southern California, Bill Essayli.
• 🚨 The program aims to allow federal immigration officials access to local jails to arrest undocumented immigrants.
• ⛓️ This initiative is described as a shakeup to existing sanctuary immigration policies in California and Los Angeles.

Redefining Sanctuary City Status

• 🚫 Essayli explicitly states that Los Angeles is not a sanctuary city, challenging its previous designation.
• ⚖️ The program forces local police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, compelling them to honor federal arrest warrants.
• 🏛️ This move is seen as a way to circumvent sanctuary policies that prevent city resources from enforcing federal immigration laws.

Impact on Incarcerated Immigrants

• 🔍 Federal agents can access inmate fingerprints as soon as they are booked into county jail.
• 🛂 The program facilitates the transfer of undocumented immigrants, including those with prior deportations, to ICE custody.
• 📈 Individuals may face felony charges for illegal re-entry and serve significant federal prison time before deportation.

Political Pushback and Cooperation

• 🗣️ A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that state law has long permitted cooperation with ICE in such circumstances.
• 🛡️ The governor's office claims to have rejected bills that would weaken law enforcement's ability to coordinate with ICE, emphasizing public safety.
• 🤝 There has been minimal major pushback from local leaders or the governor's office regarding this federal effort.
• 📊 Operation Guardian Angel could potentially lead to as many as 50 arrests per week across Southern California.