California Democrats condemn Sacramento immigration raids
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
SACRAMENTO LAWMAKERS REACT TO IMMIGRATION RAIDS
California politicians reacted to the U.S. Border Patrol’s immigration raid leading to the arrest of 12 individuals in Sacramento on Thursday.
The immigration operation took place at a Home Depot parking lot in south Sacramento and was carried out by armed and masked agents.
Assemblymember Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, questioned if this exercise violated a federal court injunction barring CBP from indiscriminate raids in areas including Sacramento.
“Federal immigration agents need to follow court orders,” the former prosecutor said in a statement. “Today’s CBP operation at the Sacramento Home Depot parking lot looked awfully similar to the indiscriminate sweeps we’ve seen, where workers are picked up without a warrant or even reasonable suspicion.”
“This blatant abuse of power is meant to spread fear across our immigrant community and does nothing to advance public safety,” Krell said.
Krell’s neighbor and Democratic colleague in the state Senate, Angelique Ashby, called the operation “barbaric.”
“Removing people by force, while wearing masks, and separating them from their families is barbaric,” she said in a statement Thursday evening. “Violent and ruthless ICE raids are happening across the Golden State, including right here in Sacramento. It’s heartbreaking to see the terror that our own Federal Government is willing to unleash in the communities we love.”
Members of Congress representing the Sacramento area echoed Krell and Ashby’s sentiments.
Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, condemned the action and affirmed support for the Sacramento community. She called the raid “deliberate, calculated effort to create an atmosphere of intimidation.”
“Here in Sacramento, we will not back down in the face of authoritarianism,” Matsui said in a release. “We refuse to stand by while our neighbors are cruelly targeted and torn from our community. We are united in defense of our immigrant families—committed to ensuring they have the support, protection, and dignity they deserve.”
Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, similarly criticized the raids and questioned the lawfulness, calling them “racially driven and conducted without probable cause.”
“There is a clear difference between targeting individuals who pose a serious threat to public safety and targeting people of color in a Home Depot parking lot who are simply trying to work hard and support their families,” Bera said in an X post. “This type of action undermines civil liberties and erodes public trust in law enforcement.”
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty called the raids “immoral and inhumane”.
“Sacramento has been a Sanctuary City for over 40 years and I will continue to protect ALL its residents,” McCarty said on X.
Gregory Bovino, the chief border patrol agent who helped organize the Home Depot operation, brazenly shrugged off any concerns about Sacramento’s sanctuary status in a video he recorded on the steps of the Capitol.
“Whether it’s here in Sacramento or nationwide,” Bovino said, “we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.”
BONTA CHALLENGES TRUMP’S HEALTH INSURANCE CHARGES
Via Kate Wolffe
Between 200,000 and 250,000 Californians could lose access to health coverage under a new policy by the Trump administration to be stricter about subsidized health care, and millions more in the U.S. would pay more for premiums and deductibles.
That’s according to Attorney General Rob Bonta, who announced Thursday he’s suing the administration over the rule, called the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule. Bonta is leading the effort with the attorneys general from Massachusetts and New Jersey, and 17 other AGs have signed on.
Trump’s administration characterizes the changes as a tune-up to reduce “improper enrollments” and the “improper flow of federal funds.” It would shorten the open enrollment period, impose stricter income verification, and eliminate certain inroads to coverage. It also furthers administrative priorities, like removing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from plan eligibility criteria and disqualifying gender-affirming care from being listed as an essential health benefit.
“I won’t stand by while millions of Americans, including children, seniors and LGBTQ plus individuals are stripped of their health care because of partisan power plays,” said Bonta.
The changes would also likely lead to higher Medicaid costs for states, said Bonta. That would be bad news for California, which had to borrow billions from the state general fund to cover already higher-than-anticipated Medi-Cal costs earlier this year.
As the Attorney General points out, there are less than 4 months until the open enrollment period begins for people hoping to buy health insurance. On November 1, people will have to contend with the new rules — or not.
RURAL HOSPITALS FIND FUNDING
Via Amelia Wu
California’s Nondesignated Public Hospital Bridge Loan Program has extended a lifeline to two Central Valley hospitals, ensuring their continued operation through zero-interest loans.
Sen. Steve Padilla announced on Thursday that securing state funds prevented the closure of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe and El Centro Regional Medical Center in Southern California.
This intervention comes at a critical time for rural hospitals. According to an American Hospital Association fact sheet, 48% of rural hospitals operated at a financial loss in 2023, and 92 have closed over the past decade.
Palo Verde is a 51-bed hospital that offers intensive care, radiology, laboratory, respiratory care and surgical services, according to the California Hospital Association. It serves as the sole health care facility within 100 miles of Blythe, providing care to thousands in surrounding rural areas. Its closure would force residents to travel two hours to the nearest hospital.
El Centro Regional Medical Center’s sale was put on hold, as reported by the Imperial Valley Press. A proposed agreement indicates the Imperial Valley Health District would acquire assets and assume $29 million in liabilities for one dollar.
“In a time our rural hospitals are facing financial hardship and potential closure, it is critical that the state step in to ensure all Californians have access to life saving care,” Padilla said in a statement. “These hospitals are often the only source of healthcare for an entire community.”
SCHIFF’S HEALTH PROPOSALS DEFEATED
Via David Lightman
Sen. Adam Schiff’s effort to maintain funding for U.S. global health programs was defeated by Republican opposition in a 51 to 46 vote.
The money would be cut as part of the package approved by the Senate Thursday. The $9 billion in cuts has had no Democratic support.
Schiff, D-Calif., would have reversed $500 million in reductions that goes to health programs around the world. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, countered the bill cuts money used for other, wasteful programs, while not forgetting to help ease health care crises.
Schiff said his proposal would “reduce the amount of cuts required to global health programs in order to ensure that funding for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and maternal health and nutrition programs remain — not just in theory, but in real dollars and cents.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was the only Republican to support Schiff, joining 45 senators who caucus with Democrats. Fifty-one Republicans voted to reject the Schiff plan.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Voters should choose their representatives. Representatives shouldn’t choose their voters.
His (Gov. Newsom’s) sole purpose for doing so is to try to make our state even more one sided, to put more of his cronies in Congress, to remove what checks and balances that we have.”
–Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, at a U.S. Capitol press conference commenting on Democratic talk about revisiting congressional redistricting in California.
Best of The Bee:
Donald Trump’s immigration agenda is largely avoiding a vital California region, via Stephen Hobbs and Mathew Miranda
Trump’s education funding freeze may lead to CA state worker layoffs, agency warns, via Will Melhado
Trump administration officially pulls $4B from California high-speed rail, via Erik Galicia
Fox News correspondent was with border patrol agents in south Sacramento raid, via Molly Gibbs
Sacramento Border Patrol raid adds pressure for California Legislature to act, via Lia Russell