SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom enacted legislation that allocates $50 million to fortify the state’s legal framework against challenges posed by the Trump administration and to provide support for immigrants during the president’s initiatives related to mass deportations.
One key component of the legislation designates $25 million for the state Department of Justice to engage in legal confrontations with the federal government, while another $25 million is reserved for legal organizations aimed at defending immigrants who may face deportation. During the first term of Trump’s presidency, tensions arose between him and California over various issues, including environmental regulations, policies concerning water, and immigrant rights; the state responded by initiating or participating in over 100 legal actions against the federal government. These confrontations have resurfaced as Trump embarks on his second term.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas commented, “Californians are being threatened by an out-of-control administration that disregards the Constitution and feels there are no boundaries to its authority.” He emphasized that the legislation is crucial for providing resources to protect Californians from what he described as an urgent threat.
This legislative action followed Governor Newsom’s return from Washington, D.C., where he met with Trump and congressional members to negotiate federal disaster assistance in response to the severe wildfires in the Los Angeles area that struck in January, tragically resulting in over 20 fatalities.
Last month, Newsom had already signed into law a $2.5 billion package aimed at aiding the state’s disaster response efforts, which include evacuations, sheltering survivors, and the disposal of hazardous waste. His administration anticipates reimbursement from the federal government for these expenses.
However, Republican lawmakers have expressed discontent regarding the lawsuit funding, characterizing the emphasis on Trump as a diversion from the pressing recovery needs in the Los Angeles region. Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones remarked that the allocated resources appear to be a “slush fund” serving more to distract from critical issues than to help wildfire victims effectively.
Additionally, critics have raised concerns that the legislation does not guarantee that funds will not be utilized to assist immigrants without legal status who have been convicted of serious crimes. In response to these criticisms, Governor Newsom clarified that the intention of the funding is not for that purpose and suggested that lawmakers introduce further measures if there is a need for clearer stipulations. He asserted that the resources are intended to empower legal groups in “safeguarding the civil rights of California’s most vulnerable residents.”
Newsom’s initiative to protect state policies was announced shortly after Trump’s election victory in November. He called a special session of the Legislature to push the passage of these bills.
California is accustomed to engaging in legal disputes with the federal government regarding actions taken by Trump. According to the state attorney general’s office, California launched over 120 lawsuits against Trump’s administration during his first term, with total expenditures amounting to approximately $42 million spent on these legal challenges, which ranged from about $2 million to nearly $13 million per year.
