State opens portal to report conduct of federal agents

California Atty.

- KEVIN RECTOR

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM, left, and Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have clashed with the president over the raids.

Gen. Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom launched an online portal Wednesday allowing residents to report what they believe to be excessive force, misconduct or other potentially illegal activity by federal agents or members of the military working in the state.Videos, photos and other information submitted through the portal will be treated confidentially and will help members of Bonta’s team “create a record of potential unlawful conduct by federal agents” that could be used in legal actions, Bonta’s office said.

The announcement comes as state leaders have clashed fiercely with Trump administration officials over the deployment of federal immigration agents in California. For months, local residents have filmed and documented those agents during immigration raids and enforcement actions. Claims of abuses have mounted and local leaders have started putting forward their own measures to restrict federal agents operating in their jurisdictions — including a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors vote on Tuesday to ban federal agents from wearing masks.

“California will always stand against abuses of power wherever they come from, and we will make sure that no one — not even a federal agent — operates outside the Constitution in our state,” Bonta said during a news conference about the portal Wednesday morning. “This is an important step in that process.”

“We're not going to stand by while anyone — including federal agents — abuses their authority in California,” Newsom said in a statement. “This new portal gives Californians an easy and safe way to speak up, share what they see, and help us hold people accountable. No one is above the law.”