Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a federal lawsuit against the State of California late Wednesday, citing the implementation of local immigration laws the federal government believes are unconstitutional.
The suit, writes NBC News, names Gov. Jerry Brown and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as defendants along with the state. Litigation – led by the Justice Department – names a trio of laws, intended to protect immigrations, which the agency claims hinder enforcement and endanger federal officials.
“California, we have a problem,” said Sessions, speaking at an annual gathering of law enforcement organizations in the state capital of Sacramento. He promised that the “Department of Justice and the Trump administration are going to fight these unjust, unfair and unconstitutional policies which have been imposed on you.”
In addition to condemning the state’s leadership, Sessions blasted Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.
A week and a half ago, Schaaf warned Oakland residents of an impending series of immigration raids. The warning purportedly encouraged undocumented aliens to stay home as a means of avoiding detainment and possible deportation.
“So here’s my message to Mayor Schaaf: How dare you. How dare you needlessly endanger the lives of law enforcement officers to promote a radical open borders agenda,” said Sessions.
Ironically, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the three bills underpinning the lawsuit as a means to protect his constituents. Brown said last October that they strike “a balance that will protect public safety while bringing a measure of comfort to those families who are not living in fear every day.”
According to NBC News, the laws afford illegal immigrants at risk of deportation some of the ‘most generous’ protections in the nation – causing the Department of Justice to charge California with improperly interfering with federal enforcement agencies.
Session’s suit specifically addresses three laws signed into effect last autumn:
– SB 54, which specifically prevents state prison officials from informing the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency when immigrant prisoners are due to be released. NBC notes the same law bars officials from transferring detainees into federal custody after the completion of their sentences.
The law – the most controversial of the three – prompted the Justice Department to allege its implementation means law enforcement officers face greater danger when re-arresting illegal immigrants.
– AB 450, which ‘forbids private employers from cooperating with immigration agents who conduct worksite enforcement operations.’ The same law requires employees be informed of scheduled inspections, leading the Justice Department to allege its passage is an attempt to frustrate “an expected increase in federal […] actions.”
– AB 103, which mandates state officials inspect detention facilities wherein federal agencies hold illegal immigrants due to be deported.
Gov. Brown gave an angry and impassioned response to the Justice Department’s announcement, accusing the administration of spearheading an aggressive political ploy.
“This is basically going to war against the state of California, the engine of the American economy,” said Brown on Wednesday. “It’s not wise. It’s not right. And it will not stand.”
Brown and Becerra say Sessions spun the state’s laws out of context, blatantly lying about officials’ desire for an ‘open border’ and a desire to secede from the United States.
“We know the Trump administration is full of liars. They have plead guilty already to the special counsel.”
Sources
California governor says Trump administration waging war against state
Trump’s Justice Department sues California over immigration enforcement
Join the conversation!