Today, California Senate Republicans submitted a formal request to Governor Gavin Newsom asking that he veto both Senate Bill X1-1(Wiener) and Senate Bill X1-2 (Wiener), which together make up Democrats’ efforts to wage a legal war on the newly seated Trump-Vance Administration.
“Taxpayer funded lawyers to help criminal illegal immigrants fight deportation. That’s what Democrat lawmakers want to spend $25 million on?! And another $25 million waging legal warfare against the newly elected president, while we simultaneously beg for his assistance with wildfire recovery. This slush fund isn’t about solving any real problems—it’s a political stunt designed to distract from the urgent issues our state faces and it won’t bode well for fire victims,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego). “Californians have had enough of these political games and the waste of our tax dollars. We strongly urge the governor to do the right thing and veto these bills.”
Senate Bill X1-1, passed today by Assembly Democrats and sent to the governor’s desk for his signature or veto, would allocate $25 million to create a slush fund controlled by Democrat Attorney General Rob Bonta to use in pursuing unspecified future litigation against the federal government.
Senate Bill X1-2 would allocate $25 million to provide illegal immigrants in California with legal services to fight immigration proceedings against them. Legislative Democrats claim the funds are not intended to be used to help the “worst” illegal immigrant offenders from being deported, but there are no restrictions in the bill to prevent it. Democrats in the Assembly rejected proposed amendments that would have ensured the funds do not help dangerous criminal illegal immigrants stay in California.
“The number one goal for the federal government, and one we should all be advocating for, is to go after folks that are a public safety threat,” said Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) during debate on the Senate Floor. “Quite frankly, I don’t want folks that are peddling fentanyl from other countries in our state. I want them out. I don’t want cartel members in our state, I don’t want folks that are engaging in human sex trafficking, we should be working with the federal government to get these people out.”
Governor Newsom has 12 days to sign or veto the legislation before it becomes law automatically without his action. Senate Republicans remain hopeful he will heed their calls to veto the bills prior to that deadline.
“We have a public safety problem in California and a big component of that is international gangs and cartels. Human trafficking has exploded and it knows no bounds,” said Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) during a floor debate on the bill. “Our children and girls are the victims and let me tell you; if you’re in this country illegally, and you are a criminal that continues to create more victims, I don’t want you here. This bill is going to undo some of the very important work that the legislature has done to make California safer.”