In Sacramento, California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Friday designating $50 million to safeguard the state’s policies against challenges from the Trump administration and to provide defense for immigrants amidst the president’s deportation initiatives. One of the laws directs $25 million to the state Department of Justice for legal battles against the federal government, while another portion of the funds, also totaling $25 million, will support legal organizations in defending immigrants who may face deportation.
During his initial term, Trump clashed with California on issues such as climate regulations, water policies, and immigrant rights, resulting in over 100 legal actions initiated by the state against the administration. These same conflicts are resurfacing at the start of Trump’s second term.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas stated earlier in the week, “Californians are under threat from an administration that disregards the Constitution and believes there are no boundaries to its authority. That is why we are enacting legislation to allocate resources for the defense of Californians against this pressing threat.”
This decision follows Newsom’s recent visit to Washington, where he engaged with Trump and congressional members to secure federal aid for the destructive wildfires that struck the Los Angeles area in January, claiming over two dozen lives. Last month, Newsom signed a $2.5 billion relief package to support the state’s disaster response efforts, including evacuations and waste removal. The state anticipates reimbursement from the federal government for these expenditures.
Critics, particularly Republican lawmakers, have raised concerns about the allocation of funds for lawsuits, arguing that the focus on Trump detracts from the ongoing recovery efforts in fire-stricken regions. Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones criticized the funding as a political maneuver that diverts attention from critical issues the state faces.
Furthermore, there have been apprehensions about the potential use of these funds to defend immigrants without legal status who have been convicted of serious crimes. Newsom clarified that the funding was not designated for such purposes and urged lawmakers to pass additional legislation for clarification if necessary. He emphasized that the funds aim to aid legal organizations in protecting the civil rights of California’s most vulnerable residents.
Newsom first proposed the plan to safeguard the state’s policies shortly after Trump’s election in November, convening a special legislative session for the passage of these bills. California has a history of challenging the federal government in court, having filed over 120 lawsuits against the Trump administration during his initial term. The state invested approximately $42 million in legal battles against the federal government, with annual expenditures ranging from $2 million to nearly $13 million.
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