In a letter addressed to Nora Vargas, the outgoing chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, senior counsel at the America First Legal Foundation (AFL) made it clear that illegals in the U.S. will be removed under the upcoming administration. The correspondence, reportedly sent via email on December 23, was obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
“Federal law is clear: aliens unlawfully present in the United States are subject to removal from the country, and it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield them,” the letter read.
The AFL, led by Stephen Miller—a key architect of immigration policy during President Donald Trump’s first term and now deputy chief of policy for the incoming administration—advocates for policies grounded in “America First” principles, as outlined on its website.
The letter to Vargas was not unique; similar communications were reportedly sent to other California officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell.
The letters warned of potential “criminal liability” for officials enforcing or abiding by sanctuary policies. The AFL asserted that such policies often require coordinated efforts among officials, which, according to their interpretation, could expose them to prosecution under federal conspiracy statutes.
This latest move underscores ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local sanctuary policies, as debates over immigration continue to shape national and state-level discourse.
Trump’s administration is reportedly drafting plans to deport migrants to alternative countries if their home nations refuse to accept their return. The list of potential destinations includes Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, Panama, and Grenada, according to NBC News.
Trump has prioritized mass deportations, particularly targeting illegal migrants with criminal histories. Incoming officials aim to expedite the process, seeking to deport individuals within a week of their arrest. In addition to proposing agreements with countries like Panama, Trump is reportedly pushing Mexico to accept non-Mexican migrants stopped at the U.S. border or deported from inside the country.
Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the administration’s commitment, stating, “President Trump was given a mandate by the American people to stop the invasion of illegal immigrants, secure the border, and deport dangerous criminals and terrorists that make our communities less safe. He will deliver.”