Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg hit back against the Justice Department’s lawsuit against California’s immigration policies, saying the denunciation of sanctuary cities has no legs to stand on.
“It’s factually untrue,” the Democrat told Cheddar in an interview Monday. “We, in fact, are cooperating with...federal law enforcement officials when it comes to apprehending people with serious charges against them or with serious criminal records.”
Last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions accused California of obstructing enforcement of federal immigration laws, calling the state’s policies “extremist.” The legal action specifically targets three laws passed last year that limit local cooperation with federal agents and make it illegal for federal agents to raid private workspaces.
Over the past year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ramped up deportations and raids.
California isn’t deterred, though.
“We won’t cooperate when it comes to handing over information about people who do not have serious criminal backgrounds and serious criminal records,” said Mayor Steinberg.
“We are standing for the best American values.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/sacramento-mayor-darrell-steinberg-weighs-in-on-the-dojs-lawsuit-against-california).
California Governor Gavin Newsom is projected to keep his job. Around two-thirds of the votes have been reported, and roughly 64% of those votes are in favor of keeping Newsom as their governor.
Daniel Strauss, senior political correspondent at The New Republic, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more about what Newsom's win means to both political parties moving into Midterm elections season.
The Department of Justice is suing Texas over the state's new abortion law that prohibits abortions after six weeks, well before many women even know they're pregnant. The lawsuit argues the law is unconstitutional under long-standing Supreme Court precedent. It was filed last week in federal court in Texas, but could go all the way to the high court within weeks. Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, discusses the DOJ lawsuit and what it could mean for other abortion laws across the country.
26 states have now fully vaccinated more than half of their population with Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts fully vaccinating at least two-thirds of their residents. These three states are among the ones with the lowest new Covid-19 cases per capita, but in states with low vaccination rates, hospitals are filling up again.
Dr. Rob Davidson, ER doctor and executive director of Committee to Protect Health Care, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more.
