Trump Security Appointee Warns Newsome He May Face Charges Over “Sanctuary City” Laws

Gavin Newsome and other Democratic Governors have been put on notice by the incoming Trump administration that they could face criminal charges for their illegal practices in their so-called sanctuary cities.

The warning came in a letter from Stephen Miller, Trump’s newly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security. The letter warns that sanctuary laws and policies violate federal immigration law and “subjects those who abide by it to significant risk of criminal and civil liability.”

The strategy was kicked off recently with a letter sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom and various sheriffs, police chiefs, district attorneys, mayors and supervisors in sanctuary cities and counties by the America First Legal (AFL) foundation, which was founded by Stephen Miller.

This comes on the heels of incoming Border Czar Tom Holman’s warning to the same officials: “If you knowingly conceal or harbor an illegal alien from a police officer, it is a felony. To impede a federal law enforcement officer is a felony, so don’t cross that line.” He further warned, “We’ve got a strong AG coming in, Pam Bondi, and we will present these prosecutions, so you know, don’t test us!”

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ), chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, also stated that he expects Bondi to go after these officials for “obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting criminal cartels.”  

This leaves little doubt the Justice Department will pursue these officials, likely first with a warning letter similar to the AFL letter, then with federal indictments. The size and scope of the migrant crisis is far greater than it has been in decades. Thus, the Trump administration must employ an all-encompassing approach, including indictments and perhaps the use of federal marshals, CBP and other federal law enforcement.

As laid out in the AFL letter, federal law is clear that an “official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, [DHS] information regarding the citizenship or immigration status” of an individual. Further, according to the letter, individuals can be held criminally liable for failing to adhere to the law with a penalty of up to five years in prison per alien.

It was President Joe Biden’s order overturning the remain-in-Mexico policy that led to the migrant surge. On day one, Biden began allowing migrants to cross anywhere they pleased along our almost 2,000-mile border southern border. They were not required to enter through an official entry point. Cross the desert, the mountains, or the river at the place of your choosing (or, more accurately, at the drug cartel’s choosing). That is no problem. Biden brought the border patrol to you and gladly processed you right there. As a result, according to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), 1.7 million migrants crossed in Biden’s first year, an over fourfold increase over the prior year.

This means we have an unknown number of migrants with violent criminal backgrounds and/or terror ties presently in the country. According to CBP, about twelve million migrants have crossed under Biden. A significant percentage likely have criminal records. Even if it were just one percent, that means 120,000 people to be very concerned about!