Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 9 March 2018

US sends warning shot with California immigration lawsuit

tion. Meanwhile, admin- cials access to jails.
istration officials planned California has also sued
to meet Thursday with four the administration over the
Colorado state lawmak- grant conditions and filed
ers who oppose so-called a separate suit to protect
sanctuary policies. It was some young immigrants
not immediately clear if from deportation. A feder-
representatives from other al judge in San Francisco in
states would also attend. January blocked the Trump
The lawmakers will discuss administration's decision to
with the White House Do- end the Deferred Action
mestic Policy Council "how for Childhood Arrivals pro-
we can stop sanctuary cit- gram, saying young immi-
ies, restore law and order, grants were likely to suffer
and prevent gangs like serious harm without court
MS-13 from bringing vio- action.
lence and drugs across our The new federal lawsuit
borders," Republican Rep. challenges specific Califor-
Dave Williams of Colorado nia laws in a state that also
Springs said in a statement. is resisting the president
Response to the Trump ad- on issues from marijuana
ministration's lawsuit was di- policy to climate change.
vided along political lines, But comments by Sessions
with much of the criticism and Brown took the stand-
coming from places that off to a new level Wednes-
have waged their own le- day, with Sessions calling
gal battles with the Trump out state and local officials
California Gov. Jerry Brown, right, accompanied by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, administration. for "obstruction of law en-
responds to remarks made U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in "The Trump administration is forcement" and Brown call-
Sacramento, Calif.
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) now openly attacking juris- ing Sessions a liar who is
dictions that are protecting pandering to Trump to save
By DON THOMPSON and state Attorney General threats." their residents from unjust his job. California passed
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Xavier Becerra, both Dem- Oregon became Ameri- and unfair treatment by sanctuary laws in response
— The Trump administra- ocrats, called Sessions' visit ca's first sanctuary state in federal agents," said Seat- to Trump's promises to
tion's lawsuit challenging and the lawsuit a political 1987 with a law preventing tle Mayor Jenny Durkan, a sharply ramp up the depor-
California's efforts to pro- stunt and denied that they law enforcement from de- Democrat and former fed- tation of people in the U.S.
tect immigrants who are in want to give immigrants taining people who are in eral prosecutor, in a tweet. illegally. Sessions said sev-
the country illegally served free rein to enter the coun- the United States illegally The Trump administration eral of them prevent U.S.
as the latest warning shot try illegally. but have not broken other has clashed repeatedly Immigration and Customs
at communities nationwide Criticism of the lawsuit laws. Last year, Oregon's with Democratic mayors Enforcement officers from
with so-called sanctuary also came from sanctuary Legislature doubled down and state officials over its making deportation arrests.
policies. states and cities around on the policy with a bill to immigration policies, which Former U.S. Attorney Gen-
As he excoriated Califor- the country. strengthen it. have faced numerous set- eral Eric Holder, who led the
nia officials for their poli- Chicago Mayor Rahm California's Brown and backs in court. A federal Obama administration's
cies and actions, U.S. Attor- Emanuel said in a state- Becerra said the state is on judge in November perma- successful lawsuit overturn-
ney General Jeff Sessions ment that the administra- firm legal ground with laws nently blocked Trump's ex- ing Arizona's anti-illegal im-
warned against "reward- tion "cannot bully or black- that limit police and em- ecutive order to cut fund- migration bill, said Califor-
ing" people who enter the mail the City of Chicago ployers' cooperation with ing from sanctuary cities nia and other jurisdictions
country illegally. into changing our values, federal immigration agents in lawsuits brought by two are permitted to limit their
"It's a rejection of law and nor can our values be and require state inspec- California counties — San cooperation with federal
it creates an open borders bought." tions of federal detention Francisco and Santa Clara. immigration agents.
system," he told California Democratic Oregon House facilities. A federal judge in Illinois "The Supreme Court has
law enforcement officials Speaker Tina Kotek called What Brown called "an act in September in a law- made really absolutely
in Sacramento on Wednes- the Trump administration's of war" comes as President suit brought by the city of clear that states cannot be
day, just a few blocks from lawsuit against California Donald Trump is set to visit Chicago said the admin- forced to divert resources
the state Capitol. "Open an attempt to "bully states," California next week to see istration could not impose to help the federal govern-
borders is a radical, irratio- and promised to "make models of his proposed wall tough new immigration re- ment enforce federal law,"
nal idea that cannot be sure Oregon is a welcom- along the Mexican border. quirements on a key fed- said Holder, who now works
accepted." ing place for everyone, The visit will be his first to eral grant, including giving for the California Senate on
California Gov. Jerry Brown even in the face of these California since his elec- federal immigration offi- contract.q