Washington – California Atty. General Rob Bonta filed two prosecution on Tuesday by contesting a Trump administration policy which would refuse billions of dollars of state billions in terms of transport unless he does the example of the administration on the application of immigration.
“Let’s be clear about what’s going on here,” Bonta said in a statement. “The president threatens to draw funds to improve our roads, keep our planes in the air, prepare for emergency room and protect against terrorist attacks if the states do not comply with his requests.”
“He treats these funds, which have nothing to do with the application of immigration and everything to do with the security of our communities, as a negotiation currency,” added Bonta.
The proceedings, filed with a coalition of states against the transport and internal security departments, argue that the taxation of the new set of conditions in a wide range of grant programs exceeds the legal authority of the administration.
Last month, Trump signed a decree aimed at identifying and possibly reducing federal funds to cities and sanctuary states, which limit collaboration between local authorities in the application of laws and immigration.
“It’s quite simple,” said the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a briefing announcing the decree. “Obviously obey the law, respect the law and do not obtain federal immigration officials and law enforcement when they are simply trying to withdraw public security threats from the communities of our country.”
The cities and states that are found on the Trump administration’s list could also face criminal legal proceedings and civil rights, as well as accusations for violation of the Influenced and Corrupted Organizations.
During Trump’s first term in 2018, California legislators adopted a pioneering law of the sanctuary, California Values Act.
California receives more than $ 15.7 billion in transport subsidies each year to maintain roads, highways, railways, respiratory tract and bridges, the Bonta office said. This includes $ 2 billion for public transport systems, including buses, suburban rail, carts and ferries.
The state also receives $ 20.6 billion in annual internal security subsidies to prepare and respond to terrorist attacks and other disasters. These funds include emergency and cybersecurity preparation subsidies.
But the coalition of states – California, Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island – argued that, because such funding has no connection with the application of immigration, the Trump administration cannot impose criteria that oblige states to comply with its vision of application.
“President Trump does not have the power to illegally force state and local governments to use their resources for the federal immigration application – and his last attempt to intimidate them is manifestly illegal,” said Bonta.
This story will be updated.
California Daily Newspapers
