Schumer, Jeffries All in on Newsom’s Sanctuary State Policies

As California Gov. Gavin Newsom seeks to defend sanctuary state policies against federal immigration-law enforcement, other Democrat leaders are backing him and other sanctuary state governors to the hilt.

Newsom has few resources at his disposal to push back against President Donald Trump’s deployment of troops to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carry out deportations amid riots, but he has put forth some radical proposals in recent days.

“Donald Trump is threatening to defund California,” he said in a recent post on X.

 “But it’s Econ 101. California is a donor state. We provide over $80 billion more in tax revenue to the federal government than the federal government provides … So if Donald Trump is going to continue to threaten 40 million Americans that live in California, maybe we should consider withholding those resources.”

The Daily Signal asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both D-N.Y., how they would counsel Newsom to combat Trump.

“I think Gavin Newsom has been doing a tremendous job on behalf of the people of California,” Jeffries told The Daily Signal.

He then pushed back against Trump’s deployment of troops, saying violent protesters “should be held accountable to the full extent of the law, and state and local law enforcement officials are prepared to do that.”

Jeffries, however, did not say one way or the other whether he supports California potentially withholding tax dollars.

“In terms of any policy discussion that gets beyond where we are at in terms of this moment, you know, that’s for another day,” he said.

Schumer then told The Daily Signal that Newsom has his full support.

“All I add is, President Trump is trying to intimidate Gavin Newsom. He has shown he’s not going to be intimidated, and we’re all for that. [I’m all] for him and proud that he is refusing to be intimidated by Donald Trump,” the New York senator said.

Thursday will be a big day for sanctuary state governors on Capitol Hill.

Democrat Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Kathy Hochul of New York, and JB Pritzker of Illinois will all testify before the House Oversight Committee, at a hearing where they will almost certainly be grilled on their policies and face threats of defunding.

“Harboring aliens is a federal crime. Sanctuary policies championed by these governors jeopardize the safety of Americans and defy U.S. immigration laws,” said House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., in a preview of the hearing, adding:

President Trump is preparing to take executive action to withhold federal funding from sanctuary states. Working alongside President Trump, Congress must ensure federal immigration law is enforced.

Jeffries told reporters Wednesday that those governors have his support.

“It is my expectation that the Democratic governors are going to make a forceful case on behalf of their states and not allow some reckless, extreme MAGA Republican narrative that is divorced from the truth and reality to take shape.”

But backing those policies is a major political gamble, with midterms coming in 2026.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told The Daily Signal that he thinks Democrats’ resistance of deportation of illegal immigrants is a political win for Republicans.

“All they’re doing is helping us to maintain our majority in 2026,” he said.

Emmer said he expects harsh treatment for the Democrat sanctuary state governors when they come to the Hill.

Republicans have “got to put them on the spot to hold them accountable for what they have done. More importantly, what they have failed to do, which is, do the job of safety and security, which is why we have a civilized government,” the Minnesota Republican told The Daily Signal.

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