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July 19, 2025

DOJ Requests Data on Noncitizen Inmates in California Jails

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Track federal-state clashes over data requests

On Jul. 17, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pamela BondiPamela Bondi directed the DOJ to request that California sheriffs provide lists of all noncitizen inmates, including names, criminal charges, and release dates

The DOJ threatened to pursue subpoenas and compulsory process if sheriffs do not comply voluntarily with the data request

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert LunaRobert Luna called compliance impossible because LASD does not collect immigration status data on inmates

LASD received 995 ICE detainer requests in 2024 and complied with none, citing California sanctuary law SB 54

San Francisco Sheriff Paul MiyamotoPaul Miyamoto rejected the request, stating his priority is public safety not politics and noting the federal government already has fingerprints of all inmates

California SB 54 (California Values Act) prohibits local law enforcement from using resources for federal immigration enforcement, with exceptions for judicial warrants

The Ninth Circuit upheld SB 54 in Apr. 2019 (United States v. California); the Supreme Court declined review in 2020

California Attorney General Rob BontaRob Bonta has filed 37 lawsuits against Trump administration actions, defending SB 54 as constitutional

Despite the standoff, LASD has transferred 20 inmates to ICE in 2025 when presented with federal judicial warrants for violent crimes

πŸ›‚Immigration✊Civil Rightsβš–οΈJustice

What you can do

1

Attend local sheriff meetings or county board sessions to support data-sharing policies that protect immigrant communities

2

Support legislation at legislature.ca.gov strengthening sanctuary law protections and clarifying data-sharing requirements

3

Join the ACLU of California at aclu-ca.org which provides legal defense for sheriffs resisting federal immigration enforcement

4

Contact the California Immigrant Policy Center at caimmigrant.org to advocate for policies protecting immigrant community trust

5

Support the National Immigration Law Center at nilc.org which challenges federal overreach in immigration enforcement

6

Volunteer with local immigrant rights organizations through United We Dream at unitedwedream.org to support affected communities