UPDATE 9 p.m.: Governor Brown has issued a statement on Jeff Sessions traveling to Sacramento Wednesday to announce the Trump administration will sue to block California laws that provide protection to people living illegally in the country.
“At a time of unprecedented political turmoil, Jeff Sessions has come to California to further divide and polarize America. Jeff, these political stunts may be the norm in Washington, but they don’t work here. SAD!!!”
UPDATE 6:15 p.m.: The Trump administration on Tuesday sued to block California laws that extend protections to people living in the U.S. illegally, the most aggressive move yet in its push to force so-called sanctuary cities and states to cooperate with immigration authorities. California officials remained characteristically defiant, vowing to defend their landmark legislation.
UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg will not be in attendance for Sessions' visit.
Steinberg is in the nation's capital this week speaking to Congressional staffers about affordable housing. On Tuesday afternoon, he tweeted a video saying he'll be standing with Sacramentans from D.C.
UPDATE 2:45 p.m.: A number of groups will be protesting tomorrow's event outside the hotel, including Norcal Resist, the Sacramento Labor Council, and the Democratic Party of Sacramento County. The protests are expected to start at 7:30 a.m., while the event starts at 8 a.m.
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra is speaking to the same law enforcement organizations later Wednesday.
Becerra, a Democrat who is up for election in November, has been sharply critical of Republicans Trump and Sessions, particularly on immigration policies.
UPDATE 1:21 p.m.: Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg issued the following statement to ABC10 regarding Sessions' visit:
“Sacramento is a proud, welcoming Capitol city that prides itself on protecting public safety while respecting human rights. If Attorney General Sessions is prepared to start doing his job and focus law enforcement resources on actual criminals and security threats, we look forward to the discussion. But, if his intent is to foment fear, threaten our families or demonize our community, then he should do us all a favor and skip his flight.
Sacramento stands for unity, not with demagogues who would divide us and certainly not for the Trump Administration's anti-immigration policies which are as illegal as they are inhumane.”
ORIGINAL STORY
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions will travel to California to make a major announcement about sanctuary policies that limit local and state cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Sessions is expected to speak Wednesday to law enforcement officials at an annual gathering of the California Peace Officers' Association in Sacramento. A total of 200 people are expected to attend, but there are no more tickets available.
Trump administration officials have promised to crack down on policies that keep local law enforcement from advising federal agents when they release immigrants living in the country illegally.
The administration has heavily criticized California, home to sanctuary cities such as San Francisco.
In addition, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation last year imposing limits statewide on cooperation with federal immigration officials, although there are exceptions.
ICE has said it will increase its presence in California, and Sessions wants to cut off funding to jurisdictions that won't cooperate.
His announcement also comes after Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf warned of an immigration sweep in advance. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said hundreds of immigrants eluded detention because of her warning. Agents still arrested more than 200 people during a four-day sweep.
White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Schaaf's tweet was an "outrageous" attempt to circumvent federal authorities and was under review by U.S. justice officials.
Sessions has blamed sanctuary city policies for crime and gang violence and announced in July that cities and states could only receive certain grants if they cooperate. California is suing to force the administration to release one such grant.
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra has said federal authorities need to have warrants before collecting information from state employers or entering nonpublic areas.
He and other defenders say sanctuary policies increase public safety by promoting trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, while allowing police resources to be used to fight other crimes.
It's unclear what the announcement is, but Sessions has threatened to punish sanctuary jurisdictions, such as Sacramento, previously.
"Protecting criminal aliens from federal immigration authorities defies common sense and undermines the rule of law," Sessions said this past January.