President Trump is heading to California for the first time since he became president. The White House went to war with the state last week, challenging its sanctuary policies in a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department.
On Monday, before President Trump took off for his trip to the Golden State, White House officials reminded California political elites Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Gov. Jerry Brown that their actions hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf violated federal law earlier this month by warning city residents of an upcoming ICE raids. Hundreds of illegal immigrants escaped deportation because of her actions.
California’s squad of prominent Democrats all threw their support behind Schaaf went the story went viral.
“We don’t arrest innocent people,” ICE Director Thomas Homan told reporters.
“Either they are here in violation of federal law or they had their due process and they were ordered removed and they ignored a judge’s order… The people that we arrested — the people that weren’t detained by local jurisdictions – these are ones who are terrorizing the immigrant community. Our ICE officers are protecting the immigrant community.”
The sanctuary city battle is finally coming to a head. President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions haven’t minced words, both have been clear that they view sanctuary policies as being in direct conflict with federal law.
And in immigration matters, federal law trumps state decisions.
Pelosi is furious that California may no longer be a haven for illegal immigrants. If the Justice Department’s lawsuit is successful, California officials will have no choice but to work with ICE.
“Just last week, President Trump decided to terrorize innocent immigrant families in the Bay Area with his unjust and cruel raids. The President has now desperately decided to brazenly abuse the legal system to push his mass deportation agenda,” Pelosi complained.
“The people of California will not be bowed by the Trump Administration’s brazen aggression and intimidation tactics. Californians will continue to proudly keep our doors open to the immigrants who make America more American. We will fight this sham lawsuit and will fight all cowardly attacks on our immigrant communities.”
President Trump is expected to be in California on Tuesday.
(Source: New York Post, Democratic Leader)