Trump Admin. Sues California Over "Sanctuary" Laws

What’s the story?

• The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against California over three of its "sanctuary state" bills.

• The laws are meant to protect undocumented immigrants living in the Golden State.

Which laws are being challenged? And why?

As the L.A. Times reported, the Trump administration is claiming "the three laws in question, all passed by the Legislature last year, blatantly obstruct federal immigration law and thus violate the Constitution's supremacy clause, which gives federal law precedence over state enactments."

The three laws-in-question are:

• Making it a crime for private employers to voluntarily help federal agents find and detain undocumented workers.

• Prohibiting local law enforcement from sharing information with immigration agents about when detainees are released from custody.

• Creating a state inspection program for federal immigration detention centers.

What is Jeff Sessions saying?

In a speech at the state capital, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said:

"California absolutely, it appears to me, is using every power it has - powers it doesn't have - to frustrate federal law enforcement. So you can be sure I'm going to use every power I have to stop them."

What is California saying?

Gov. Jerry Brown (D) called Sessions’ trip to Sacramento a political stunt and said the AG misrepresented California’s laws. He also tweeted:

At a time of unprecedented political turmoil, Jeff Sessions has come to California to further divide and polarize America. Jeff, these political stunts may be the norm in Washington, but they don’t work here. SAD!!!

— Jerry Brown (@JerryBrownGov) March 7, 2018

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra echoed the governor’s remarks, tweeting:

No matter what happens in Washington, #California will stay the course and enforce all our laws and protect all our people. That’s how we keep our communities safe. #Immigration

— Xavier Becerra (@AGBecerra) March 7, 2018

### What do you think?

Should the Trump administration go after "sanctuary states"? Are undocumented immigrants a state or federal issue? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

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—Josh Herman

Related Reading

• Trump Delays California Border Wall Until Entire Project Approved
• ICE Targets Unauthorized Immigrants Attending Court, Caught in ‘Collateral Arrests’

(Photo Credit: KingWu / iStock)