Chico Calif.-- On Tuesday morning, state and city leaders gathered outside of the Board of Supervisors Chambers in Oroville to call on Northern Californians to oppose being a sanctuary state.

Senator Jim Nielsen, Representative Doug LaMalfa, and Governor-Candidate John Cox led the charge on this issue.

They said they formally, on record, oppose sanctuary law, and are calling for people to start upholding federal law and to side with the constitution.

John Cox and Rep. LaMalfa said they value legal immigrants and people who seek permission to be here, but say the country needs a change of direction.

“No more to illegal immigration, no more to sanctuary cities, no more to the sieve of a border that we have, which endangers our security and endangers the values we have in this country,” said LaMalfa.

LaMalfa said the federal law is crystal clear on this issue, and urged people in the North State to support the constitution.

“You locked the door on your front door at your house when you came here probably, you locked your car probably, and we also have an obligation to keep the door locked on the country, but with a gate with hinges, so we can allow people in on our terms,” he said.

Senator Jim Nielsen echoed a similar message.

“We are a sanctuary state for one class of individuals: felons, who have victimized us, and will continue to,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen said the country is at risk, and the government is too powerful.

About 40 people came to the gathering and there were no protesters; everyone who came was against the idea of a sanctuary state.