Trump Adviser Stephen Miller Partners With SoCal City in Bold Bid to Overturn California ‘Sanctuary State’ Law

A law firm founded by top Trump administration advisor Stephen Miller has filed an appeal contesting California’s “sanctuary state” status on behalf of Huntington Beach and top officials like gubernatorial hopeful Chad Bianco.

The firm, America First Legal, argues that the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to strike down a 2017 law banning local law enforcement from working with federal immigration officials should be overturned.

The AFL says the district court judge who last year denied the firm’s initial challenge, which had been backed by the Justice Department and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, “incorrectly applied the ‘South Lake Tahoe’ doctrine” — a rule that prevents local governments from challenging the constitutionality of state laws in federal court.

{snip}

AFL is hoping its challenge can renew cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.

The firm cites the “flawed” South Lake Tahoe doctrine — which reinforces that cities are agents of the state — saying it strips cities like Huntington Beach of their rights to protect their community.

The AFL also cited the dilemma the “sanctuary state” law places on officers “for disobeying California law or [exhibiting] potential federal criminal liability for ‘shielding and harboring’ aliens in violation of federal statutes.”

{snip}