California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) dismissed recent interest in the state seceding from the United States, but vowed to challenge President Donald Trump’s encroachments on California policy. Supporters of secession are currently collecting signatures in hopes of getting the so-called “Calexit” initiative on the 2018 statewide ballot. Becerra, who was confirmed as attorney general last month, has pledged to fight Trump policies he feels are antithetical to California’s values, including the president’s executive actions targeting sanctuary cities and undocumented immigrants. “We’re trying to keep the federal government away from depriving people of their rights,” Becerra told the Los Angeles Times. “We’re not required to abide by an edict by a president simply because the president says he wants us to do something,” he said.

Source: Huffington Post February 08, 2017 18:56 UTC