Riverside Co. Sheriff, Gubernatorial Candidate Chad Bianco Joins Huntington Beach Sanctuary City Lawsuit

America First Legal (AFL) announced Thursday that Riverside County Sheriff and 2026 Gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco would be joining as a plaintiff in their large Huntington Beach sanctuary city lawsuit, pitting him against the state of California, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Currently in California, the entire state has “sanctuary” protections. Passed in 2017 and signed into law in 2018 by Governor Jerry Brown, Senate Bill 54 prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies in California from assisting federal immigration authorities. By not allowing state law enforcement money or manpower being used for immigration enforcement, it in effect created a sanctuary for illegal immigrants who were arrested. While they can still be punished under California law, SB 54 halted or delayed outright deportation.

The election of Donald Trump in November prompted many cities and counties to create their own sanctuary city or county laws, including San Diego County and the city of Los Angeles. In addition, the state “Trump-proofed” the existing sanctuary laws, making it more difficult for ICE to get any kind of local help.

However, many cities in California also went the opposite way, looking to either be legally exempt from sanctuary laws, or reversing earlier laws the city passed to “de-sanctuary” themselves. Since November, the most prominent city to do this is Huntington Beach, which has been working to exempt itself from sanctuary laws. Huntington Beach has fought such laws dating back to when SB 54 first became law seven years ago. In January, the city went a step further following Donald Trump being elected President when they announced that they voted to become a non-sanctuary city. Under this, Huntington Beach would actively oppose the California state sanctuary law and allow law enforcement in the city to work with ICE and other federal agencies in enforcing immigration policies.

Lawsuits were subsequently filed over the issue, with the major one being filed by America First Legal. According to the suit, the Sanctuary State Laws “limit not only local law enforcement’s ability to carry out effective law enforcement practices, but also direct local officials, including Huntington Beach Police, to violate federal immigration and criminal statutes.” In addition to federal laws, AFL alleges that California’s sanctuary city laws violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Bianco joins suit

In addition, the suit presses California from enforcing state-level sanctuary laws and to allow Huntington Beach to keep its non-sanctuary state measures, including allowing the city to work with ICE. Bianco, meanwhile, became one of the leading voices against the state sanctuary policy, vowing to work around the policy as much as possible to assist law enforcement.

While the amended lawsuit was filed in March, AFL left the door open for others to join in the lawsuit. This led to Thursday when Bianco was added as a plaintiff, indirectly squaring off the gubernatorial hopeful against Governor Newsom. In addition to Bianco, the city of Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach police chief, the Huntington Beach City Council, and the Huntington Beach Police Department are all plaintiffs.

“AFL is pleased to announce that Sheriff Chad Bianco has now joined the City of Huntington Beach in challenging California’s illegal alien sanctuary laws,” said America First Legal Senior Counsel James Rogers on Thursday. States do not have the power to overturn federal law. And under federal law, it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield illegal aliens. It is also a federal crime to prevent federal officials from discharging their duties.

“California’s sanctuary laws require local law enforcement to commit federal crimes. Those sanctuary laws also infringe the free speech rights of law enforcement officers by controlling what they’re allowed to say to the Department of Homeland Security. In this context, the legal violation is even clearer because federal law specifically gives local law enforcement officers the power to talk to DHS about the immigration status of individuals.

“AFL is proud to represent Sheriff Bianco in this important lawsuit to stop California from defying federal immigration laws and will continue to relentlessly defend our nation’s border security and protect American citizens.”

As of Thursday afternoon Bianco, as well as Bonta and Newsom, have yet to add further comment to the lawsuit addition. A loss by either side in the U.S. District Court Central District of California will likely lead to an appeal.