KQED's Forum Trump’s Immigration Crackdowns: A Conversation with Florida
Sep 19, 2025
Marisa Lagos, a KQED politics correspondent, Tom Hudson, president of news at WLRN, and Jasmine Garst, an NPR immigration correspondent, dive into the contrasting immigration policies of California and Florida. They discuss DeSantis's aggressive enforcement tactics compared to Newsom’s sanctuary laws. The conversation highlights the impact of these policies on labor shortages in agriculture, family dynamics, and education, revealing how communities are navigating the complexities of immigration enforcement amidst shifting political landscapes.
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Bay Area's Community Defense Network
- Bay Area built strong community and legal networks to notify and defend immigrants during ICE actions.
- Local laws stayed mostly the same while advocacy groups prepared communications and legal help.
Newsom Shifted After L.A. Deployments
- Governor Gavin Newsom shifted from cautious engagement to taking a public stand after federal troop deployments in L.A.
- California moved to lead legal challenges and contrast Trump's actions on behalf of immigrants.
State Law Trumps Local Patches
- California's state sanctuary law matters more than local ordinances because it covers many jurisdictions without local protections.
- Enforcement varies by county and correlates with local political leanings.
