Despite the state of California’s sudden need for assistance from the Federal government to rebuild Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off on a budget package that included $50 million to fight policy changes by President Donald Trump’s administration and protect immigrants.
The sign-off came with a word of caution: taxpayer resources shouldn’t help immigrants who were convicted of serious or violent felonies avoid deportation.
Driving the news: Newsom signed off on Senate Bill X1 2, a proposal that sets aside $50 million for so-called “Trump proofing.”
- $25 million of the funds were set aside for California’s Department of Justice to wage legal battles against the Federal government over a bevy of current and future policy changes.
- The other $25 million was set aside for legal defense funding for immigrants facing possible deportation by the highly-aggressive Trump administration.
What he’s saying: “None of the funding in this bill is intended to be used for immigration-related legal services for noncitizens convicted of serious or violent felonies,” Newsom said in a signing statement, calling on the Legislature to pass clarifying companion legislation on the issue.
