America First Legal (AFL) has announced the addition of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco as a plaintiff in its lawsuit against California's sanctuary laws. The lawsuit, initially filed on behalf of the City of Huntington Beach, targets the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Robert Bonta.
James Rogers, Senior Counsel at America First Legal, stated, "AFL is pleased to announce that Sheriff Chad Bianco has now joined the City of Huntington Beach in challenging California’s illegal alien sanctuary laws."
The organization argues that these state laws conflict with federal immigration statutes. Rogers emphasized that "States do not have the power to overturn federal law," adding that "California’s sanctuary laws require local law enforcement to commit federal crimes." He further noted that these laws infringe on the free speech rights of officers by restricting their communication with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The AFL claims that since California began implementing sanctuary laws in 2017, there has been a significant release of criminal illegal aliens into communities and an increase in violent crime by nearly 20 percent statewide.
America First Legal continues its efforts against what it views as unlawful sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States. The organization remains committed to opposing policies it believes protect criminal illegal aliens and harm American citizens.