US sends warning shot with California immigration lawsuit
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Trump administration’s lawsuit challenging California’s efforts to protect immigrants who are in the country illegally served as the latest warning shot at communities nationwide with so-called sanctuary policies.
As he excoriated California officials for their policies and actions, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions warned against “rewarding” people who enter the country illegally.
“It’s a rejection of law and it creates an open borders system,” he told California law enforcement officials in Sacramento on Wednesday, just a few blocks from the state capitol. “Open borders is a radical, irrational idea that cannot be accepted.”
California Gov. Jerry Brown and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, both Democrats, called Sessions’ visit and the lawsuit a political stunt and denied that they want to give immigrants free rein to enter the country illegally.