Jul 17, 2025 - Politics & Policy

DOJ pushes for all data on noncitizens in California jails

CHOWCHILLA, CA - JUNE 18, 2024: A caged outdoor area once used to exercise death row inmates, is now used to discipline unruly and disruptive general population women prisoners at the Central California Women's Facility on June 18, 2024 in Chowchilla, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times vi — A caged outdoor area at the Central California Women's Facility on June 18, 2024, in Chowchilla, California. Photo: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Department of Justice requested multiple California counties on Thursday for data about every noncitizen inmate being held in the state's jails.

Why it matters: The request is a further escalation of the Trump's administration's crackdown on sanctuary cities in California.

There's no universal definition of a sanctuary city, but local California law enforcement typically does not help federal officers enforce civil immigration laws except for cases involving criminal offenses.

Driving the news: The DOJ said in a press release it hopes California sheriffs will voluntarily produce the noncitizens information, but the department will "pursue all available means of obtaining the data, including through subpoenas or other compulsory process," if the state doesn't comply.

"Removing criminal illegal aliens is this Administration's highest priority," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
"I look forward to cooperating with California's county sheriffs to accomplish our shared duty of keeping Californians and all Americans safe and secure," she added.

Catch up quick: The request came amid the administration's ramped up deportation operation in Los Angeles, which included deploying over 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's wishes.

The DOJ sued the city of Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass and the city council over its sanctuary city laws last month, calling them "illegal" and part of the reason for the widespread immigration protests and unrest in the city during the prior weeks.

Flashback: The Department of Homeland Security released a public list of more than 500 "sanctuary jurisdictions" in May, in an attempt to ramp up pressure on the leaders of those cities.

After some cities on the list criticized the data, including some Trump-friendly jurisdictions without sanctuary policies on the books, the administration deleted the page.

Zoom out: Bondi said on Fox News Thursday while visiting the infamous Alcatraz Island in California that the facility could hold undocumented immigrants.

Trump said in May that he's directed government departments to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz in California, one of the world's most notorious prisons that's been closed since 1963.
Bondi was touring the facility with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum who oversees the island as a National Park site, Burgum said on X.

Go deeper: Pentagon withdraws 2,000 California National Guard troops from LA

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DOJ pushes for all data on noncitizens in California jails

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