Frustrated by California’s sanctuary laws, President Trump on Thursday threatened to pull Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents out of the Golden State.
“If we ever pulled our ICE out, if we ever said, ‘Hey, let California alone, let them figure it out for themselves,’ in two months they’d be begging for us to come back, they would be begging,” Trump said. “And you know what, I’m thinking about doing it.”
“Frankly it’s a disgrace, the sanctuary city situation,” he said, warning that without ICE and the Border Patrol, California “would see crime like no one’s ever seen.”
Trump’s comments came during a roundtable discussion at the White House about school safety.
California officials reacted angrily to the President’s impromptu comments.
“Trump’s so-called threat is based on a lie he keeps telling which is all immigrants do is commit crimes,” said Rep. Susan Davis, who represents central San Diego County. “The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, fine and upstanding members of our communities who are contributing every day.”
Gov. Jerry Brown issued a blunt rejoinder: “In California, we protect all of our people from criminals and gangs, as well as dangerous assault weapons. We do our job Mr. President, you do yours.”