Trump’s DOJ asks California sheriffs for full lists of non-citizen inmates, prioritizing removal of criminal illegal immigrants.

Justice Department Targets Non-Citizen Inmates in Major California Counties

The Department of Justice has launched a new initiative targeting jails in several of California’s largest counties, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, seeking comprehensive lists of all inmates who are not U.S. citizens. The requests, delivered Thursday, demand details about each inmate’s immigration status, the criminal charges or convictions against them, and their expected release dates.

According to the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs, the move is aimed at helping federal immigration authorities focus on removing illegal immigrants who commit crimes after entering the country unlawfully. “In recent years, the United States suffered an invasion of illegal aliens at an unprecedented scale,” the DOJ said in a statement, adding that many of these individuals have gone on to commit serious offenses such as rape and murder.

Bondi: Public Safety the Administration’s ‘Highest Priority’

Attorney General Pam Bondi underscored the urgency of the new data requests, labeling the removal of criminal illegal immigrants as “this Administration’s highest priority” for national security. “I look forward to cooperating with California’s county sheriffs to accomplish our shared duty of keeping Californians and all Americans safe and secure,” Bondi said.

The DOJ indicated that it hopes sheriffs will voluntarily comply, but warned it is prepared to pursue “all available means” to secure the information, including subpoenas or other compulsory legal action if necessary.

The effort follows renewed vows by Border Czar Tom Homan to intensify pressure on sanctuary cities that hinder Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. “If we can't arrest that bad guy in the jail, then we'll go to the community and we'll find him,” Homan said recently.

These federal efforts come amid a backdrop of legal battles between California and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. The most recent dispute centers on a request to lift a restraining order against ICE, issued by a Biden-appointed judge, after a court found the agency likely violated constitutional rights during raids in Los Angeles.

As the administration steps up enforcement and data collection, the outcome could significantly impact cooperation between federal authorities and local law enforcement in some of the country’s largest cities. How California sheriffs respond in the coming weeks may shape the future of immigration enforcement on the West Coast.