THE CENTER SQUARE—Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., reiterated the state’s commitment to continued funding for the deportation defense of migrants and undocumented immigrants.
President-elect Donald Trump’s promised mass deportations could have a major impact on California, which hosts approximately 2.7 million undocumented immigrants.
“If it’s legal assistance, legal advice, legal support, that’s just the California way,” Padilla said when asked if the state would fund legal defenses of undocumented immigrants facing deportation. “We embrace our diversity. Our diversity has made our communities thrive and our economy thrive.”
Given the state’s looming deficits, Republicans wondered whether such funds would be better spent elsewhere.
“The idea that we would use our tax dollars to defend criminal illegal immigrants is outrageous,” wrote state…
