California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently struck a deal with Democrats in the state legislature to allocate $50 million in taxpayer dollars to combat the incoming Trump administration’s plans to deport illegal immigrants. Reportedly, the deal would shield illegal aliens from being removed from the country as Trump has campaigned hard on mass deportations.
The move comes as the uncontained wildfires continue to rip through Los Angeles, where the death toll has risen to at least 24 people. The fires have scorched tens of thousands of acres, destroying thousands of structures. Newsom has faced criticism from many who allege he has allocated sufficient resources toward wildfire prevention. Some have also pointed out the recent arrest of an illegal immigrant who is suspected of committing arson in an attempt to start wildfires, noting that Newsom’s deal would protect this individual.
Following President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Newsom called together a special session, urging the legislature to “provide additional funding to the California Department of Justice (CADOJ) and other agencies” to prepare the state for mounting legal battles. “The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom said in November.
He continued, “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.” Now, Newsom executed a deal that would grant $25 million to the California Department of Justice to fight the Trump administration and another $25 million proposed by state Senate leaders to shield immigrants from “deportation, detention, and wage theft.”
Republican California Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher criticized the move on X, writing, “At a time when California should be laser-focused on responding to the devastating wildfires in LA, Democrat lawmakers’ priority is creating a $50 million slush fund to hire government lawyers for hypothetical fights against the federal government and to defend criminal illegal immigrants from being returned to their home countries. The disconnect between what Californians need and what Democrats are focused on is astounding.”
Retired Senator Melissa Melendez called out the illegal immigrant suspected of arson and how ridiculous the Democratic Party in California has become. “Suspected arsonist in the Los Angeles fires, Juan Manuel Sierra, is an illegal alien with a long rap sheet. But he’s been protected from the law, and from deportation by Gavin Newsom and the democrat party,” she said.
However, Democratic Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener celebrated the move in a recent statement. “This funding agreement cements California’s readiness to serve as a bulwark against Trump’s extremist agenda” He added, “Senate Democrats are particularly proud to provide funding for providers of legal aid services, which know our communities’ needs best and are best positioned to defend at scale the millions of individuals and families that will be impacted by the incoming Administration’s extreme agenda.”
Watch Newsom’s attempt to pass the blame for the fires below:
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