AG Jeff Sessions Sues California Over Sanctuary City Laws

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made it clear that there is a new Sheriff in town with his lawsuit against California’s Sanctuary City Laws passed in 2017 which he compared to “secession” and vowed to use “every power” to stop them.

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In a bold move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has decided to go to war with the GOLDEN State over what it deems are unconstitutional Sanctuary City Laws that obstruct and block Federal Agents from conducting their legal and lawful duties in order to protect from deportation, dangerous and violent illegal immigrants who have committed crimes who are in the country illegally.

During the Wednesday announcement in Sacramento, AG Sessions said he “won’t back down” from the lawsuit aimed at stopping the Constitutional overreach of Californian authorities from flouting Federal Immigration saying,

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is suing California over its Sanctuary City Laws. Credit: AP/Susan Walsh

“I don’t want to be in this position of having to challenge these laws. It wasn’t something I chose to do but I can’t sit by idly while the lawful authorities of Federal Officers are being blocked by legislative actions and politicians.”

The lawsuit which names State Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Xavier Becerra as defendants says California through it’s Sanctuary City Laws is using “powers it doesn’t have to frustrate Federal Law Enforcement,” with AG Sessions warning, “So, you can be sure I’m going to use every power I have to stop them.”

California Governor Jerry Brown (L) and State Attorney Xavier Becerra (R) are being sued over the state’s Sanctuary City Laws that impede Federal Immigration officers from performing their legal duties. Credit: Getty Images

During the announcement, AG Sessions vowed that, “The Department of Justice and Trump Administration are going to fight these unjust, unfair and unconstitutional policies that have been imposed on you.”

“We’re not going to stop enforcing the law in Alabama or in California either for that matter. We are simply asking California and other Sanctuary jurisdictions to stop actively obstructing Federal Law Enforcement,” which prohibit local Law Enforcements and businesses from cooperating with Federal Immigration (ICE) agents.

California’s Sanctuary City Laws criminalize any cooperation with Federal Immigration agents (ICE) in enforcing Federal Immigration Laws.

Sessions said California can’t practice “secession” or “nullification” by choosing which Federal Laws to obey, pointing out that, “Federal Law is the supreme law of the land. This matter has been settled,” he said in reference to the Civil War which broke out after Democrats’ challenged Federal laws in the past.

The Justice Department is going after California’s controversial three different laws – SB54, AB103 and AB540 that endanger communities by freeing criminals back onto the streets as well trample on the Federal government’s powers to set national Immigration Policy as mandated by the Constitution.

California is a Sanctuary State whose Sanctuary City Laws harbour and protect illegal immigrants including violent criminals from deportation . Credit:AP/Ringo W.W. Chiu

SB 54: The California Values Act (or “Sanctuary Law”) which took effect on the 1^st of January prohibits local and state enforcement officials from asking people their immigration status. It also limits the amount of information they can share with ICE Agents while barring them from holding immigrants for pickup by ICE.

AB 103: The Detention Review Law which became law last summer requires the State’s Attorney General to review federal prisons where immigrants are detained by ICE agents including circumstances of their arrests and processing. The review is done incarcerated illegal immigrants are awaiting deportation or an Immigration Court date.

The lawsuit argues that this is “a Law-Enforcement decision” where the immigrants are detained, pointing out that requests for review are improper, and the state has “no lawful interest in investigating Federal Law Enforcement efforts.”

AB 450: The Workplace Raid Law which also took effect on January 1, prohibits private employers from cooperating with Federal Immigration (ICE) agents during workplace raids or audits. It also restricts employers from voluntarily sharing information and giving ICE access to private or “nonpublic areas” of their businesses without judicial warrants during workplace raids.

California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra (L) and Governor Jerry Brown (R) are defendants in a Department of Justice lawsuit over their unconstitutional Sanctuary City Laws. Credit: AP

Earlier this year, California’s Attorney General issued a warning that any businesses that violate AB 450 would be charged a penalty of $2,000 to $10,000.

The move by the Department of Justice comes just days after California Attorney General Xavier Becerra accused the Trump administration of “terrorizing” immigrant communities with an enforcement sweep that resulted in more than 200 illegal migrants apprehended in the bay area.

Oakland Mayor, Libby Schaaf (C) warned illegal criminals of ICE raids giving them a chance to get away and avoid apprehension. Credit: AP/Rich Pedroncelli

It also comes in the heels of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf who sparked controversy after she tipped off illegal immigrants of potential ICE raids. The unprecedented action led to a disappearance of over 800 illegal criminals that had been targeted for apprehension and deportation.

The White House confirmed that Ms. Schaaf is currently under investigation for her actions.

California is at the forefront leading of the debate on Sanctuary Cities, an issue which then candidate Donald Trump vowed to address in 2015 if elected and which he is now fulfilling.

California’s Oakland City Mayor, Libby Schaaf is under investigation for alerting illegal criminals in her city of potential ICE raids. Credit: AP

It was Trump’s highlighting of the tragic killing of Kate Steinle by an illegal alien, a multiple deportee and repeat offender whom the state released from jail under its Sanctuary City Policy that brought this issue to the national spotlight.

According to a Justice Department official, California was target because of its radical laws that recently took effect. California is also seen as a test case for the Trump Administration whose success may lead to the Justice Department going after other states in similar fashion.