San Diego

California Sues Trump Administration Over Border Wall Projects

"In California, that's not going to fly," Becerra said.

California is suing the Trump Administration over border wall projects in San Diego and Imperial counties.

β€œNo one gets to ignore the laws. Not even the President of the United States,” Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Wednesday.

Becerra announced the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court as he stood in Border Field State Park. The suit alleging the Trump Administration failed to comply with state and federal environmental laws, was filed on behalf of the public and the California Coastal Commission.

The suit also alleges the Trump Administration violated the 10th Amendment and the separation of powers doctrine and relied on a federal statute that does not authorize the proposed projects, the state attorney general said. 

"In California, that's not going to fly," Becerra said. 

The Trump administration last week waived environmental laws and other reviews to replace a small stretch of the border wall in Calexico, California, the second time it has exercised that authority in less than two months.

Last month, Homeland Security waived reviews for a 15-mile stretch in San Diego.

The Calexico waiver marked the seventh time the government has waived environmental reviews under a 2005 law. That law exempts the government from the National Environmental Protection Act, which calls for extensive reviews of environmental impacts, and a host of other laws.

DHS would waive 37 federal statues as well as regulations related to those statutes, he said.

That move would violate β€œnumerous state and local laws” in California and San Diego County, he said. 

"If it happens in our backyard we demand that it be carried out the right way and follow the rule of law," Becerra said. "If you want to do business in California - and that includes the President of the United States - be prepared to follow the law." 

The government plans to award a contract in November and begin construction in February.

This is not the first time Attorney General Becerra has sued the Trump Administration.

California was also the first state to challenge the administration on its policy of denying funds to cities that limit cooperation with enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.

The state of California and city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice over President Trump's sanctuary city restrictions on public safety grants.

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