Attorney General Pam Bondi (AP images)
US Attorney General Pam Bondi who is temporarily overseeing Washington DC’s police at President Donald Trump’s request had announced on Thursday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has sent letters to sanctuary jurisdictions across the country. These jurisdictions have one week to comply with federal immigration laws or face potential legal action. Bondi contrasted South Carolina’s cooperation with Democratic-leaning states like New York and California. Bondi was in Greenville, South Carolina, for a panel discussion with State Attorney General Alan Wilson, members of Congress and local law enforcement officials. She had confirmed that letters had been sent to 32 mayors and several governors, warning them to follow federal policies or face DOJ action, as reported by Fox News. In a social media post on X, Bondi announced that DOJ has sent “demand letters” to sanctuary cities, counties and states as a “key step” in eliminating sanctuary policies from California to New York.” Threatening lawsuits, she said that “any sanctuary jurisdiction that continues to put illegal aliens ahead of American citizens can either come to the table or see us in court.” The announcement comes amid concerns about law enforcement staffing in sanctuary cities. Following Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s primary victory in New York, the New York City Police Department reportedly saw a surge in retirement filings. Bondi had also spoken out against current Mayor Eric Adams before, criticizing the city for being a sanctuary city. She stressed the importance of strong leadership for officer safety and urged federal, state and local governments to support law enforcement.Bondi specifically mentioned a letter sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom, warning that officials obstructing federal immigration enforcement could face criminal charges. The letter stressed the importance of cooperation between federal, state and local agencies to enforce immigration law and protect national security.She also praised South Carolina as a model of cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement. She cited recent operations, including the arrest of a Sinaloa Cartel member after a large cocaine seizure in Myrtle Beach and the largest fentanyl seizure in the state’s history, which involved coordinated efforts by DEA agents, local sheriffs and state police. The seized fentanyl was estimated to have the potential to kill 36 million people and a street value of $1.7 million.Several states, including California, New York, Colorado and Illinois, have already faced lawsuits over their immigration policies. Others on the list include Delaware, Nevada, Minnesota and DC.
