Battle Lines

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article195434409.html

The state’s top cop issued a warning to California employers Thursday that businesses face legal repercussions, including fines up to $10,000, if they assist federal immigration authorities with a potential widespread immigration crackdown.

.It.s important, given these rumors that are out there, to let people know . more specifically today, employers . that if they voluntarily start giving up information about their employees or access to their employees in ways that contradict our new California laws, they subject themselves to actions by my office,. state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said at a news conference. .We will prosecute those who violate the law.. …

Authored by San Francisco Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu, the [Immigrant Worker Protection Act will]:

. Requires employers to ask immigration agents for a warrant before granting access to a worksite.

. Prevents employers from voluntarily sharing confidential employee information without a subpoena.

. Requires employers to notify their workers before a federal audit of employee records.

. Gives the attorney general and labor commissioner exclusive authority to enforce new provisions of state labor laws.

Prohibits employers from re-verifying information on employment verification forms, unless compelled to by federal law.

Let that sink in. The California government is PUNISHING voluntary cooperation with the Federal government.

Meanwhile….

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article195683679.html

A Republican candidate for California governor said Friday that employers should help federal authorities conducting immigration raids and defy the state attorney general who says a new state law restricts such voluntary cooperation.

Travis Allen, an assemblyman from Huntington Beach, said Attorney General Xavier Becerra.s warnings of prosecution and fines for voluntarily cooperating with the U.S. government were so egregious that federal officials should consider bringing charges of their own against the Democratic official.

.To have the attorney general of California use California businesses as pawns in his ongoing war with the White House is not just wrong, it’s illegal,. Allen said in a Friday interview. .This is textbook criminal obstruction of justice and he should be prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice..

FINALLY, for God’s sake, a California Republican finally accuses a Democrat criminal of being a criminal. Maybe this Travis Allen isn’t controlled opposition. Then again, maybe it’s just midterm season. It’s Sessions who needs to file the obstruction of justice warrant and he isn’t doing it.

Interesting times, baby.