WASHINGTON DC – California has been warned by the Trump Administration that federal funding for police would be cut off if they pass into law what they are calling the "Values" Act. The measure faces a vote in the California Assembly, then signature by Democrat Governor Jerry Brown. The Trump administration has threatened that, if California passes the act, the state will be cut off from a range of law enforcement grant money, a local news source said.
California Democrats say that any move to cut off federal policing funds is an attempt at blackmailing the state, and are promising to fight for every dollar.
Already, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has threatened to cut off federal police funds to the city of Chicago for defying federal immigration laws. But that warning hasn't threatened Illinois' governor, who is apparently locking arms with Democrat Mayor Rahm Emanuel in defiance.
Illinois Republican Governor Bruce Rauner's office said Tuesday he plans to sign SB 31 into law, a bill similar to California's, next Monday. At the same time, Rauner will sign into law another bill immigration advocates pushed through the Illinois General Assembly – one that would automatically register to vote anyone that has obtained a driver's license in Illinois.
Under the California Values Act, State and local law enforcement agencies and school police and security departments cannot engage in immigration enforcement except in narrow circumstances. With a few exceptions, no state or local resources will be used to investigate, detain, detect, report, or arrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes. And regardless of whether state or local resources are implicated, state or local law enforcement agency will be prohibited from detaining any person for deportation without a judicial warrant.
Under the Illinois "Trust" Act, law enforcement agencies and officials would be immediately prohibited from detaining or continuing to detain an individual solely on the basis of a federal immigration detainer or non-judicial immigration warrant. SB 31 also authorizes law enforcement training on compliance with the Illinois TRUST Act, which would defy federal immigration laws.
