California Democrats Pledge $50 Million To Resist The Incoming Trump Administration While The State Burns

As some of the most devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County's history continue to burn, California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state's Democratic-led legislature have decided to allocate $50 million to challenge policies from the incoming Trump administration and to offer protection to undocumented immigrants. This decision, which might be voted on as early as this week before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration following Monday, has drawn criticism from California Republicans who argue that the state should prioritize the fire crisis over political conflicts.

The agreement, initially suggested by Newsom post-election after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, arose from a special legislative session that started on December 2. It includes $25 million for the California Department of Justice to oppose the Trump administration legally and another $25 million aimed at preventing deportations, detentions, and wage theft among undocumented immigrants, according to POLITICO.

Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener commented, "This funding agreement solidifies California's stance as a defender against Trump's extreme policies." In a November statement, Newsom declared, "The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack—and we will not remain passive."

In response, Republicans have pushed for a special session focused exclusively on wildfire recovery. Newsom, in a discussion on the liberal podcast "Pod Save America," expressed a willingness to "do whatever moves the needle forward."

Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher criticized the agreement, stating, "While California should be concentrating on the devastating wildfires in LA, Democratic lawmakers are instead prioritizing a $50 million fund for legal battles with the federal government and for protecting undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds from deportation."

California Senate Democrats have emphasized the importance of this funding, especially since Trump has promised extensive deportation actions upon taking office. California has had the largest population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. since the 1980s, with approximately 1.8 million in 2022, per Pew Research, surpassing Texas by nearly 200,000. Wiener stated, "We are proud to fund legal aid services that are well-acquainted with our community's needs and are ideally placed to defend the millions affected by the new administration's radical policies."