Last July, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that cities and states
only would be eligible for
Edward Byrne Memorial Justaice Assistance grant money
if they cooperated with federal immigration authorities. The U.S. government’s
definition of “cooperation” means that cities and states are
required to advise federal immigration officials in advance when an undocumented
immigrant is to be released from incarceration and give them access to
local and state detention facilities. However, this directly conflicts
with California’s newly enacted state sanctuary law, which went
into effect in 2018. Sessions has blamed sanctuary policies for everything
from rampant crime to gang violence, but proponents of sanctuary policies
say that they improve public safety by promoting trust between immigrant
communities and law enforcement officers. As a result of Sessions’
decision, the state of California filed suit against the U.S. government,
claiming that the government could not withhold these funds based on the
state’s compliance with federal immigration laws and policies. The
judge denied the state’s request for a preliminary injunction requiring
the U.S. Department of Justice to immediately turn over $1 million in
federal funds to the state. However, the judge also denied the U.S. government’s
motion to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that the suit raised important
constitutional issues that courts have not yet addressed. More recently,
a Los Angeles federal district court judge has issued a nationwide permanent
injunction that prohibits the U.S. government from requiring local police
departments to help immigration authorities in order to qualify for federal
funding. This latest federal court ruling is a major coup for local governments
and the state of California, whom have sought to stay out of the immigration
enforcement business. America’s current political climate makes
living in the U.S. very difficult for those with no legal immigration
status, and the state of California is doing its best to fight back against
the anti-immigration rhetoric and policies of the Trump administration. At
Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we are dedicated to protecting your rights, no matter your age or immigration
status. We know how to evaluate your case, explore your options, and provide
you with the strongest defense against removal possible. Contact your
California deportation defense attorneys
today and set up an appointment to speak with our legal team.
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If you want to know more about the Biden's Proposed Immigration Reform, watch our video!