Sessions Skewers State Justice For Accusing ICE Of ‘Stalking’The attorney general and
the chief justice of California are in a battle of words over the Trump administration's immigration enforcement in the state
Attorney General Jeff Sessions ripped into
California’s top judicial official over the blistering remarks she made about immigration enforcement in the state.
In a letter sent this week, Sessions struck back against
Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the chief justice of California, who this month asked the Trump administration to stop ICE agents from “stalking” courthouses in the state to arrest immigrants. The request, mentioned in a terse letter of her own, drew national headlines and heightened tensions between Trump and California, whose officials have
vowed to fight the president’s immigration crackdown.
“Your characterization of federal law enforcement officers is particularly troubling,” wrote Sessions in a March 29 letter co-signed by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. “As you’re aware, stalking has a specific legal meaning in American law, which
describes criminal activity involving repetitive following or harassment of the victim with the intent to produce fear or harm.”
“Some jurisdictions,
including the State of California and many of its largest counties and cities, have enacted statutes and ordinances designed to specifically prohibit or hinder ICE from enforcing immigration law,” the letter said. “As a result, ICE officers and agents are required to locate and arrest these aliens in public places, rather than in secure jail facilities.”
“I worry that people will no longer cooperate, or come to court to press their rights, or to seek protection because they will see the court as a bad place,”
Cantil-Sakauye continued. “And I worry that crimes will go unreported and communities will live in fear.”
http://www.vocativ.com/416910/sessions-state-justice-ice-stalking/
