California Senator Alex Padilla is committed to protecting the state’s resources from President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation plans. Speaking on CBS’ *Face the Nation* on Sunday, Padilla emphasized that immigration enforcement is the federal government’s responsibility, not state governments.
“There’s an important distinction here. No state has the constitutional authority to enforce federal immigration law. That responsibility belongs to the federal government,” said Padilla, a Democrat.
Trump has vowed to declare a national emergency and deploy the military for mass deportations, a proposal that has faced strong opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans. Padilla insists that state and local officials should focus on their roles, leaving immigration enforcement to federal authorities. “Let the federal government do its job, and let state and local officials handle their own responsibilities. There doesn’t have to be conflict unless that’s what Trump wants,” he added.
Padilla’s comments come as California’s Senate Bill 54, passed in 2017, limits state and local law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement. This law could lead to conflict with the incoming Trump administration. Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar, has warned that local law enforcement that refuse to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) could face federal prosecution.
Padilla responded, saying, “Some states, like Texas, want to push the envelope, but there is no obligation to assist federal immigration enforcement.” Texas Governor Greg Abbott has argued that if the federal government fails to secure the border, Texas has the right to take action, including deploying razor wire along its border with Mexico.
Despite these tensions, Padilla firmly stated that California will not use state or local resources for federal immigration enforcement.
California leaders, including State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Governor Gavin Newsom, have also voiced strong opposition to Trump’s border policies. Padilla said, “California is the most populous and diverse state in the nation, with more immigrants than any other state. The last thing we want is for immigrants to fear coming forward to report crimes or assist in investigations because of their immigration status.”
Padilla also raised concerns about Trump’s broader relationship with California. He criticized the president’s refusal to provide FEMA funds to California, suggesting it was politically motivated. “Trump has made it clear he has it in for California,” Padilla said. “We’re working to protect ourselves from these kinds of threats.”
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