California is ready to take on the Justice Department.
That’s according to San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, who was responding to a lawsuit against the state brought by Attorney General Jeff Sessions over immigration laws.
“I find it very disingenuous that you have people that for generations talk about state rights and all of a sudden their talking about federal supremacy,” he said in a Cheddar interview Wednesday.
The Justice Department and immigration agencies this week sued California over its “sanctuary” laws, which prohibit local and state authorities, as well as private employers, from cooperating with federal immigration officers.
Sessions, who filed the suit Wednesday, said California’s policy threatens national safety.
Gascón, though, said the state doesn’t prevent immigration officials from going into California and doing their jobs. It’s simply not actively cooperating. He argued that immigrants are important to California’s social fabric and provide a “major economic engine.”
“I think that this is an administration that is failing on so many fronts, and what they’re trying to do is create another diversion,” he told Cheddar. “All of this is really a political stunt that is driven by very racist attitude and has nothing to do with public safety.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/inside-the-sanctuary-city-legal-battle).
Gov. Mike Dunleavy says Alaska has become the first state to drop eligibility requirements and allow anyone 16 or older who lives or works in the state to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
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COVID infections are on the rise in U.S. prisons and are accounting for some of the largest outbreaks. Cheddar's Michelle Castillo reports.
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Shelly Kapoor Collins, founder of the Shatter Fund, spoke to Cheddar on International Women's Day about the upcoming Shatter Summit, a one-day digital event celebrating women in leadership roles in various industries.
Fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing.
Oprah Winfrey's interview with Meghan and Harry has produced several revelations.
Roger Harris, executive vice president and chief marketing and revenue officer at Amtrak, talked about the new station's role in Northeast transit amid the widespread changes in travel habits.
