Feds launch program in California to counteract state's sanctuary policies

Federal prosecutors launched Operation Guardian Angel to counter California's sanctuary policies, aiming to take undocumented immigrants with criminal records into federal custody from state jails. The program specifically targets individuals incarcerated in county jails within the Central District, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. By utilizing federal arrest warrants, the operation seeks to bypass state laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. U. S.

Attorney Bill Essayli stated that the initiative ensures serious offenders are not released back into communities, highlighting a specific case where an undocumented immigrant allegedly committed murder after being released due to state law restrictions. The task force, consisting of agents from multiple federal agencies, scans criminal databases to identify previously deported individuals and seeks federal warrants for felony re-entry. This operation underscores the ongoing conflict between California's sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement efforts.