Brad Sherman: ‘California Is Absolutely Within Its Rights’ To Enact Sanctuary Policies

WALLACE: Congressman Sherman, you have said that Washington is violating the Constitution by putting this citizenship question in. But isn’t California violating the Constitution by interfering with the federal government, which has supremacy when it comes to matters of immigration?

SHERMAN: Chris, we need comprehensive immigration reform. Until we get it, we’ll be pulling our society apart over this issue.

WALLACE: Sir, you’re not answering my question. Isn’t —

SHERMAN: Now, I’ll get — I’ll get —

WALLACE: OK.

SHERMAN: California is absolutely within its rights. And California has sued the Trump administration 29 times and we haven’t lost once. (INAUDIBLE) the Trump administration —

WALLACE: You’re not answering my question, which is, isn’t immigration —

SHERMAN: I will.

WALLACE: Well, let’s get to it, sir.

SHERMAN: Absolutely.

WALLACE: We’re almost done, sir.

SHERMAN: Yes. Yes. The states and the federal government share sovereignty in our federal system. That’s why Obamacare couldn’t force the states to expand Medicaid, even though that’s the federal program that even though —

WALLACE: Now, that’s the question of supremacy. And, in fact, when Arizona, went further than President Obama did, the Supreme Court said that they had overstepped their bounds. Under the supremacy clause, the federal government, what they say on immigration goes, and aren’t you violating that?

SHERMAN: Federal government establishes immigration policy. But whether America — whether California employees are going to spend California money and resources to help enforce that policy is a California decision. We will win that in court. And if the federal government can’t compel states to participate in Medicaid, it can’t compel states to become law enforcement authorities on immigration.