U.S., Calif. face off on ‘sanctuary’ laws
State fights court battle with federal government
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A U.S. judge said Wednesday that he was not convinced California enacted protections for immigrants in the country illegally in an effort to interfere with federal immigration enforcement — potentially undercutting a key argument by the Trump administration in its lawsuit seeking to block three state laws.
The laws instead appeared to be a message from the state that it didn’t want to participate in federal immigration policies, U.S. Judge John Mendez said.
“We’re not going along anymore, we’re not participating,” he said about how he read the state’s motives.
Outside the courthouse in California’s capital city, scores of people protested U.S. immigration policies.
California has been a leader in opposing Trump administration policies, filing more than 50 lawsuits, mostly over immigration and environmental decisions. The administration has fought back, sparring with the state’s Democratic leaders and criticizing their so-called sanctuary policies.
It sued California in March — a move that Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown described as “going to war.”
One of the laws the U.S. is targeting requires the state to review detention facilities where immigrants are held. Another bars law enforcement from providing release dates and personal information of people in jail, and the third bars employers from allowing immigration officials on their premises unless the officials have a warrant.
California officials say their policies promote trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. The administration says the state is allowing dangerous criminals on the street.
The federal government argues in its lawsuit that the U.S. Constitution gives it pre-eminent power to regulate immigration.
Mendez, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said he would not issue a ruling Wednesday.
California’s laws, two of which went into effect in January, follow Trump’s promises to ramp up deportations.
The administration has tried to crack down on sanctuary jurisdictions by restricting funding if they refuse to help federal agents detain and deport immigrants.
California, which this year became the second “sanctuary state,” has resisted that move.
In fighting the lawsuit, state officials argue the administration is trying to assume powers that have long been understood to belong to states and cannot show that the state’s policies are causing harm.