CA Democrat Says State Will Use Taxes on Legal Assistance for Migrants Against ‘Threats’ of Trump Admin: ‘That’s Just The California Way’

Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) revealed that California will use taxpayer money on “legal assistance, legal advice, legal support” for migrants facing “threats” under a Donald Trump administration.

President-elect Trump has vowed to implement mass deportations for illegal migrants once he takes the oath of office next month. California is home to millions of undocumented migrants who could be under threat of deportation, depending on how and if Trump follows through.

During a Sunday interview on Face The Nation, Padilla told anchor Major Garrett that California will use state funds to help fight against the Trump administration’s efforts to deport migrants.

GARRETT: The governor has called a special session that will convene this week to set aside money to battle the Trump administration. Will some of that money also be set aside to protect migrants and undocumented immigrants in California as they seek either legal advice or continued legal financial backing to support their efforts to stay within California and the United States?

PADILLA: Yes. Again, if the first Trump administration is any indicator, we know that there will continue to be a lot of fear in communities and communities that deserve to know what their rights are and what their rights are – are not.

And so, if it’s legal assistance, legal advice, legal support, that’s just the California way. We embrace our diversity. Our diversity is what has made our communities thrive and our economy thrive. And so we will assist families against the threats of the Trump administration.

If we wanted to sort of cut to the chase, you know, we’re hearing a lot of bombast from Trump and his allies about the biggest deportation operation in our country’s history, on the one hand, versus a – maybe a focus on violent criminals on the other.

Nobody – nobody disagrees with a focus on violent criminals.

GARRETT: Yes.

PADILLA: Democrats, Republicans agree. But that’s very different…

GARRETT: Yes.

PADILLA: … than millions and millions of people being deported indiscriminately, not just tearing families apart, tearing communities apart…

GARRETT: Yes, Senator.

PADILLA: … but tremendous damage to our economy that that would create.

Watch the clip above via CBS News.