Huntington Beach leaders filed suit in federal court Tuesday, claiming the city should be able to fight crime locally without state interference.

A major California city is suing the state over its sanctuary law, arguing that it violates the Constitution and prevents

Politics have been intense in recent years in the once laid-back coastal town of Huntington Beach. The city with working class roots (oil drilling and farming once dominated here) has leaned conservative for a long time. But even prominent local Republicans say local government was never as contentious as it has been in recent years.

The City of Huntington Beach is suing to overturn the state’s sanctuary state laws protecting illegal immigrants, arguing they violate federal immigration laws and the state and national constitution.