California lawmakers in the Assembly on Thursday delayed their vote on legislation to bolster the state’s legal defenses and immigration services to fight the Trump administration because Democratic leaders are now considering changes to the immigration-related proposal. Two sources close to the situation told KCRA 3 Gov. Gavin Newsom now wants small changes to ensure none of the funds earmarked for the immigration services can be used to provide immigration-related legal services to criminals. The proposal at the center of this would specifically give $25 million to nonprofit organizations that provide immigration legal and support services to undocumented people, especially those facing eviction, intimate partner violence and wage theft. While Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and Democratic lawmakers have said the money is not intended to protect criminals from deportation, Newsom’s Department of Finance could not guarantee the funds would not be used to do so when pressed by Republicans in a hearing earlier this week.The governor’s proposed changes were part of the reason why Democratic lawmakers in the Assembly caucused for about 45 minutes during session on Thursday before deciding to delay the vote on the Trump-related proposals. Sources told KCRA 3 the Assembly’s leadership is supportive of the changes.Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Gov. Newsom said in a written statement,”The Governor will take action on these measures when they reach his desk.” A spokesperson for State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire did not comment as of Thursday night. The State Senate approved the Trump-related proposals last week. Ahead of Thursday’s floor session, Republicans had already planned to force votes on wildfire-related legislation and changes to the Trump-related proposals. Those changes included an amendment making it explicitly clear the immigration funds could not be used to protect felons from deportation. Democratic leaders in the Assembly would not speak to reporters immediately after floor session on Thursday. Nick Miller, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, provided a written statement instead. “The actions by Republicans in Washington this week jeopardize programs and services Californians rely on most, from health care to school funding,” Miller wrote. “Our residents are confused, fearful and worried. In the Assembly, we are going to look closely at the special session legal defense bills to ensure they are airtight and protect all Californians.” “I think it’s a great thing,” Assembly Republican Minority Leader James Gallagher told reporters when Democrats delayed the vote. “There’s a lot of flaws in these measures, it’s not what we should be focused on. From the beginning, this has been a political stunt by Gavin Newsom.” The immigration legislation is part of a pair of bills in a special legislative session Gov. Newsom called initially to prepare for legal battles with the Trump administration. The proposal allows the California Department of Justice to spend $25 million to fight the Trump administration in court over state and federal policy differences. It was not clear as of Thursday when changes to the proposals would be made and when the Assembly will try to move them forward. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
California lawmakers in the Assembly on Thursday delayed their vote on legislation to bolster the state’s legal defenses and immigration services to fight the Trump administration because Democratic leaders are now considering changes to the immigration-related proposal.
Two sources close to the situation told KCRA 3 Gov. Gavin Newsom now wants small changes to ensure none of the funds earmarked for the immigration services can be used to provide immigration-related legal services to criminals. The proposal at the center of this would specifically give $25 million to nonprofit organizations that provide immigration legal and support services to undocumented people, especially those facing eviction, intimate partner violence and wage theft.
While Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and Democratic lawmakers have said the money is not intended to protect criminals from deportation, Newsom’s Department of Finance could not guarantee the funds would not be used to do so when pressed by Republicans in a hearing earlier this week.
The governor’s proposed changes were part of the reason why Democratic lawmakers in the Assembly caucused for about 45 minutes during session on Thursday before deciding to delay the vote on the Trump-related proposals. Sources told KCRA 3 the Assembly’s leadership is supportive of the changes.
Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Gov. Newsom said in a written statement,”The Governor will take action on these measures when they reach his desk.”
A spokesperson for State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire did not comment as of Thursday night. The State Senate approved the Trump-related proposals last week.
Ahead of Thursday’s floor session, Republicans had already planned to force votes on wildfire-related legislation and changes to the Trump-related proposals. Those changes included an amendment making it explicitly clear the immigration funds could not be used to protect felons from deportation.
Democratic leaders in the Assembly would not speak to reporters immediately after floor session on Thursday. Nick Miller, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, provided a written statement instead.
“The actions by Republicans in Washington this week jeopardize programs and services Californians rely on most, from health care to school funding,” Miller wrote. “Our residents are confused, fearful and worried. In the Assembly, we are going to look closely at the special session legal defense bills to ensure they are airtight and protect all Californians.”
“I think it’s a great thing,” Assembly Republican Minority Leader James Gallagher told reporters when Democrats delayed the vote. “There’s a lot of flaws in these measures, it’s not what we should be focused on. From the beginning, this has been a political stunt by Gavin Newsom.”
The immigration legislation is part of a pair of bills in a special legislative session Gov. Newsom called initially to prepare for legal battles with the Trump administration. The proposal allows the California Department of Justice to spend $25 million to fight the Trump administration in court over state and federal policy differences.
It was not clear as of Thursday when changes to the proposals would be made and when the Assembly will try to move them forward.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
