California lawmakers prepare to resist Trump’s mass deportation plans

() – The California State Legislature will host a special session this week that lawmakers say will help protect the state against President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The incoming Trump administration’s plans to implement strict border measureseliminating Biden-era policies and initiating large-scale migrant detention and deportation are underway and are one of the biggest concerns for Democrats in the Golden State.

While other states are willing to help enforce federal immigration law, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla said California leaders believe they have no obligation to do so.

“We’re not going to use state and local resources to do the federal government’s job for them,” Padilla said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.

The indiscriminate deportation of undocumented immigrants would destroy communities and cause a tremendous damage to the economyPadilla said. And using state or local law enforcement for immigration duties could harm public safety, the senator said, because immigrants who witness crimes may be afraid to come forward.

However, Padilla said Democrats and Republicans would agree to focus on deporting violent criminals, something some Trump allies have emphasized as the first step in their plan.

“There doesn’t have to be a conflict unless that’s what Trump wants,” Padilla said.