DOJ Requests California County Sheriffs Provide Names of Noncitizen inmates in California Jails

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that it issued requests to sheriffs in multiple major California counties for lists of all inmates in their jails who are non-U.S. citizens, their crimes of arrest or conviction, and their scheduled release dates.

In their announcement, the DOJ also clarified that both Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna and San Francisco County Sheriff Paul Miyamoto were amongst those Sheriffs receiving letters. In addition, the DOJ pointed out that they were just prioritizing the removal of illegal aliens who committed crimes after illegally entering the United States, skirting around sanctuary laws as it has to do with criminals.

“In recent years, the United States suffered an invasion of illegal aliens at an unprecedented scale,” said the DOJ on Thursday. “Far too many of those illegal aliens have gone on to commit crimes on American soil, including rapes, murders, and other violent crimes.  Today’s data requests are designed to assist federal immigration authorities in prioritizing the removal of illegal aliens who committed crimes after illegally entering the United States. Although every illegal alien by definition violates federal law, those who go on to commit crimes after doing so show that they pose a heightened risk to our Nation’s safety and security.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi further stated that while she hopes that all Counties will voluntarily do this, the DOJ could force counties to do so with subpoenas and other legal methods.

“Removing criminal illegal aliens is this Administration’s highest priority,” expressed Attorney General Bondi. “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 Department of Justice hopes that California sheriffs will voluntarily produce the requested information.  But if necessary, the Department will pursue all available means of obtaining the data, including through subpoenas or other compulsory process.”

“Every illegal alien has broken federal immigration law and violated our Nation’s sovereignty. But those who commit additional crimes on American soil are especially dangerous to our Nation’s safety and security.” added DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle in an X post.  “Deporting them is President Trump’s highest priority.

“Today, Attorney General Bondi sent letters to several California sheriffs—including Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County, the most populous county in America—requesting lists of all inmates in their county jails who are not citizens of the United States, their crimes of arrest or conviction, and their scheduled release dates. It’s time for California’s county sheriffs to fulfill their oath of office and keep the citizens of their counties safe and secure.”

While the state and several cities have had pushback on recent federal actions, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently giving out an Executive Action that demanded to know the names and reasons why all arrested people during raids were taken into custody, the federal government has also given much recent action. This has included a recent focus on West Coast ICE raids, resulting in a growing number of immigration arrests. However, until now, getting illegal immigrants who have been criminals in jail has been touch and go, with ICE an other groups often waiting for them to get out first.

The new directive released on Thursday changes all that, with California sheriffs now looking at giving lists of illegal immigrants in their jails because of crimes they committed after coming to the U.S.

As of Thursday evening, many Sheriffs have not given a definite yes or no to the federal request, nor have city and state leaders including Governor Gavin Newsom or state AG Rob Bonta responded to the matter. However, responses are expected soon. The Sheriffs will have 30 days to meet the request, with additional federal action likely to begin in mid-August against all hold out countries.

Notably, Amador County Sheriff Gary Redman is the first sheriff in California to publicly state that he already cooperates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement when dealing with criminal illegal aliens, the Globe reported in March.