El Cajon Seeks Injunction Over 52 Migrant Child Checks Barred by California Sanctuary Laws
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
El Cajon Seeks Injunction Over 52 Migrant Child Checks Barred by California Sanctuary Laws
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Summary
A May 20 injunction motion asks a San Diego County court to stop Attorney General Rob Bonta from enforcing California sanctuary laws against El Cajon police while the city’s April 28 lawsuit proceeds.
The filing centers on 52 unaccompanied migrant children with El Cajon addresses after federal officials asked whether local police could help verify their safety through welfare checks.
A June 2025 letter from Bonta’s office warned that checks based on federal immigration information could violate SB 54 if officers confirmed locations or reported results back to immigration authorities.
El Cajon says that leaves officers choosing between possible state-law violations and ignoring vulnerable children, while Bonta suggested county social services could respond when no criminal activity is evident.
The dispute has widened into a broader challenge to SB 54, the TRUST Act and the TRUTH Act, with immigrant-rights advocates arguing such welfare checks can become immigration enforcement in disguise.