HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - A federal judge has dismissed Huntington Beach's lawsuit challenging California's sanctuary law, known as the California Values Act of SB54.
The law limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. On December 1, Judge Sunshine S. Sykes of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that Huntington Beach lacked the standing to challenge the law in federal court, KFI AM640 reported.
In the ruling, the judge cited a Ninth Circuit precedent, which states that political subdivisions, including charter cities like Huntington Beach, cannot raise federal constitutional claims against their own state's statutes.
Huntington Beach filed the lawsuit in January, arguing that the California Values Act conflicted with federal immigration, criminal, and civil rights laws. The city had also declared itself a non-sanctuary city. The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) supported Huntington Beach, calling the California Values act unconstitutional.
In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the city lacked standing in to challenge the law. "The court has dismissed Huntington Beach's meritless lawsuit challenging CA's pro-public safety, pro-trust law," Bonta said following the court's decision.
The case was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Huntington Beach the option to sue again. This is not the first time the city has faced legal setbacks over the California Values Act. Both Huntington Beach and the Trump Administration unsuccessfully challenged the law in 2018, the year it was enacted.
Under SB 54 California law enforcement agencies are prohibited from investigating, interrogating, detaining or arresting persons for immigration enforcement purposes. It also states that California law enforcement agencies are prohibited from participating in joint law enforcement task forces where the primary purpose of the task force is immigration enforcement.
The law limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. On December 1, Judge Sunshine S. Sykes of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that Huntington Beach lacked the standing to challenge the law in federal court, KFI AM640 reported.
In the ruling, the judge cited a Ninth Circuit precedent, which states that political subdivisions, including charter cities like Huntington Beach, cannot raise federal constitutional claims against their own state's statutes.
Huntington Beach filed the lawsuit in January, arguing that the California Values Act conflicted with federal immigration, criminal, and civil rights laws. The city had also declared itself a non-sanctuary city. The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) supported Huntington Beach, calling the California Values act unconstitutional.
In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the city lacked standing in to challenge the law. "The court has dismissed Huntington Beach's meritless lawsuit challenging CA's pro-public safety, pro-trust law," Bonta said following the court's decision.
The case was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Huntington Beach the option to sue again. This is not the first time the city has faced legal setbacks over the California Values Act. Both Huntington Beach and the Trump Administration unsuccessfully challenged the law in 2018, the year it was enacted.
Under SB 54 California law enforcement agencies are prohibited from investigating, interrogating, detaining or arresting persons for immigration enforcement purposes. It also states that California law enforcement agencies are prohibited from participating in joint law enforcement task forces where the primary purpose of the task force is immigration enforcement.
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