Friday, March 29, 2024

Judge dismisses Trump Administration lawsuit against California immigration laws

Yesterday a federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit challenging several California laws that protect undocumented immigrants.

U.S. District Judge John Mendez sided with California in its request to reject the Justice Department’s complaint against SB 54, known as the “sanctuary state law,” and AB 103, which requires transparency in the monitoring of detention facilities, as well as a provision of AB 450, the Immigrant Worker Protection Act, that requires employers to inform workers before handing over their employment records to federal authorities.

By dismissing the majority of the federal government’s lawsuit, Mendez rejected the Trump administration’s argument that federal law trumps state sanctuary policies and that the federal government has pre-eminent power under the U.S. Constitution to regulate immigration.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra celebrated the ruling in a statement on Monday.

“Today’s decision is a victory for our State’s ability to safeguard the privacy, safety, and constitutional rights of all our people,” Becerra said. “Though the Trump Administration may continue to attack a state like California and its ability to make its own laws, we will continue to protect our constitutional authority to protect our residents and the rule of law.”

HUFFINGTON POST