Columbia, S.C. (WCIV) — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a coalition of 18 states which filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California over state laws that obstruct the federal government’s ability to enforce the nation’s immigration law.
“States cannot be allowed to ignore federal laws they don’t like, especially when doing so puts public safety at risk,” said Wilson.
South Carolina lawmakers are considering bills that would require cities and counties to submit annual reports confirming that they are following federal immigration laws.
In contrast to California’s laws, the Texas legislature passed a law that affirms the right of law enforcement agencies throughout the state to detain individuals pursuant to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement federal detainer program.
“Dangerous sanctuary policies like California’s undermine the rule of law and endanger good law enforcement officers and the communities that need their protection the most,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “It is incomprehensible that California finds criminal illegal aliens dangerous enough to detain, but then insists on releasing them back into the community to offend again instead of turning them over to federal immigration authorities for removal.”
View the full friend-of-the-court brief here.