California lawmakers are pushing ahead with a plan to create a border-to-border sanctuary in the state for undocumented immigrants – in defiance of President Donald Trump.
The proposed law would prohibit local law enforcement in the state from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, KCBS-TV in Los Angeles reported.
A public hearing on the proposed measure, which Democrats say would protect immigrants from Trump's crackdown, is scheduled for Tuesday.
Trump has signed an executive order vowing to withhold federal funds from jurisdictions that do not comply with federal immigration laws, per The Hill.
The California fight could put billions of dollars in federal money in jeopardy for California programs.
"We will not stand by and let the federal government use our state and local agencies to separate mothers from their children," said Democratic California Senate President Kevin de Leon, who introduced the bill that would prohibit state and local enforcement agencies from spending money to enforce federal immigration laws.
About one in 10 people in California workforce do not have legal documents, de Leon's office estimated, according to The Hill.
"In California, immigrants are an integral part of who we are, and what we've become. They have helped create the wealth and dynamism of this state from the very beginning," Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown said.
"We will defend everybody — every man, woman, and child — who has come here for a better life and has contributed to the well-being of our state."
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