Justice Department suing California over sanctuary laws
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On Tuesday, the Trump administration sued to block three laws in California that were passed by the state legislature last year, claiming those laws obstruct federal immigration law and violate the Constitution's supremacy clause.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions will speak in front of the California Peace Officers Association on Wednesday, and per excerpts of his remarks, he plans on saying the Justice Department and "Trump administration are going to fight these unjust, unfair, and unconstitutional policies that are imposed on you." The laws in question make it a crime for business owners to assist federal agents in finding and detaining undocumented workers; bar local law enforcement from notifying immigration agents when detainees are released; and create a state inspection program for federal immigration detention centers.
In a statement, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) called the suit "a stunt. At a time of unprecedented political turmoil, Jeff Sessions has come to California to further divide and polarize America. Jeff, these political stunts may be the norm in Washington, but they don't work here. SAD!!!"
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
