Santa Cruz remains defiant despite new immigration crackdown

Reaction is strong after the Trump administration threatened to cut off funding to sanctuary cities Monday.

In a surprise visit to the White House press briefing, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions made it clear: enforce the law or else.

“I’m urging states and local jurisdictions to comply with these federal laws,” said Sessions.

The Department of Justice plans to award $4 billion in grant money this year to local governments. Now, the Trump administration says sanctuary cities will not be eligible to get them anymore.

The feds argue sanctuary cities protect undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

In Santa Cruz, a sanctuary city, some found the demand appalling.

“It’s inhumane, to say the least,” said Lisa Johnson, a Santa Cruz resident.

City officials in Santa Cruz are not fazed, however.

“If the federal government wants to take more funds away from cities like us, that’s just the consequence of that,” said Santa Cruz Deputy City Manager Scott Collins.

The city is known for its defiance towards federal immigration policies. Back in February, Santa Cruz Police condemned what it viewed as Homeland Security overstepping during a major gang sweep that also included illegal immigrant detentions.

Santa Cruz has a couple of small grants being processed by the feds right now. The city stands to lose them after Sessions’ announcement.

“I feel that they’re targeting folks that look different than us, primarily people from Mexico, Central America, people who don’t speak English,” said Johnson.

Some residents do not mind the tougher immigration policies.

“The state’s broke. And a lot of people feel that we just can’t take any more immigrants, not anymore,” said Debra Moran, a Santa Cruz resident.

There are more than 140 sanctuary cities and counties across the country. These include San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Watsonville and now Soledad.