California defies Trump, becomes sanctuary state

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to make California a sanctuary state on Thursday in an effort to protect illegal immigrants and defy the Trump administration. “These are uncertain times for undocumented Californians and their families, and this bill strikes a balance that will protect public safety, while bringing a measure of comfort to those families who are now living in fear every day,” Brown said in a statement. The bill, which cleared the state legislature last month, bars police from questioning people’s immigration status or following federal immigration enforcement law in most cases starting Jan. 1. California harbors an estimated 2.3 million illegal immigrants—the most in the United States. In January, the Trump administration announced it would begin cracking down on jurisdictions that did not enforce federal immigration laws by withholding grant money in some cases. When California lawmakers passed the bill last month, they cited President Donald Trump’s comments on immigration and expressed a desire to defy his policies. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday called the law irresponsible and said she hoped California law enforcement would push back on the governor’s decision. After California passed the law, Thomas Homan, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, called it a dangerous policy: “By passing this bill, California politicians have chosen to prioritize politics over public safety.”