(DC Pundit) – In a letter delivered Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi warned Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom that his state’s defiant sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants could soon hit California where it hurts most, the wallet.
“Dear Governor Newsom, The United States has a long history of cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies, including for immigration enforcement,” Bondi wrote. “Such cooperation is vital to enforce federal law and protect national security.”
Translation: states don’t get to pick and choose which federal laws they feel like following. For years, California has built a reputation as the sanctuary capital of the nation, shielding illegal immigrants from deportation and tying the hands of federal law enforcement officers. Bondi made it clear that those days are over.
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She reminded Newsom that Congress itself has codified that states and local governments have a duty to cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts. Instead of honoring that responsibility, California has spent years pushing policies that make it harder for ICE and Border Patrol to do their jobs.
“For too long, so-called sanctuary jurisdiction policies have undermined this necessary cooperation and obstructed federal immigration enforcement,” Bondi wrote. She added that these policies give “aliens cover to perpetrate crimes in our communities and evade the immigration consequences that federal law requires.”
🚨 BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi will revoke federal funding from California if Gavin Newsom refuses to end his state's sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
The hammer is being laid down. pic.twitter.com/eg805G6Ptq
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 14, 2025
And she’s not exaggerating. California has repeatedly made headlines for releasing criminal aliens back into the public instead of handing them over to federal authorities — a move that has resulted in preventable tragedies. But rather than admit failure, Newsom doubles down, touting his state’s lawless behavior as some sort of “moral stand.”
Bondi made clear that under President Trump, those excuses won’t fly anymore. “Under President Trump’s leadership, full cooperation by state and local governments in immigration enforcement efforts is a top priority,” she stated.
The attorney general explained that Trump has directed her, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, to identify sanctuary jurisdictions and notify them of violations of federal law. More importantly, the administration is reviewing its authority to attach immigration-related conditions to federal grants and contracts, meaning California’s federal funding is very much on the chopping block.
“As contemplated by the Executive Order, designation as a sanctuary jurisdiction may result in additional consequences and further agency actions as permitted by law,” Bondi concluded.
California’s reliance on federal funding is no secret. Billions flow into the state every year for everything from infrastructure to education to law enforcement. Losing even a fraction of that would create chaos in Sacramento, forcing Newsom to either hike taxes again (a California specialty) or finally admit that his policies have consequences.
What makes the situation especially rich is the political hypocrisy on display. Democrats never miss an opportunity to accuse Republicans of ignoring the “rule of law,” yet when it comes to illegal immigration, they proudly disregard the law themselves. Newsom has turned California into a sanctuary playground while expecting taxpayers from across the rest of the country to keep footing the bill.
Bondi’s warning represents more than just a budgetary threat, it’s a reminder that the Trump administration isn’t going to let rogue states undermine national security. For decades, Washington looked the other way while California and other blue states played sanctuary games. That era is over.
Governor Newsom now faces a choice: keep his sanctuary policies and risk losing California’s federal funding, or finally cooperate with federal law enforcement. Given his record, we probably already know which direction he’ll choose — but this time, there will be a steep price to pay.
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