US Speaker suggests withholding disaster aid over California immigration policies

The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has suggested that disaster aid to California could be withheld due to the state's stance on immigration policy. This comes after Los Angeles and its surrounding areas were heavily impacted by wildfires, leaving thousands homeless. However, Speaker Mike Johnson has proposed that federal assistance may come with conditions.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Johnson stated that California should not receive any disaster relief unless it changes its immigration policies. Hannity asked, "Are you saying that if California continues to assist and abet lawlessness and harbor illegal immigrants, that funding from Washington will be cut off?" Johnson responded, "Yes, we're discussing adding conditions to this disaster aid. There are natural disasters and then there are man-made disasters, and they (California) are making bad decisions, and they know exactly what they are doing."

Los Angeles is considered a "sanctuary city," meaning it does not cooperate with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws. Sanctuary cities have long been a point of contention between the two major political parties in the U.S. California Democratic Congressman Ami Bera called attaching conditions to disaster relief a "dangerous precedent." Bera stated, "We're all Americans. When there's a disaster in Louisiana, or what we've seen in North Carolina, South Carolina, we should come together as a country and support those citizens that are affected."

Meanwhile, wildfires have broken out again north of Los Angeles, with around 20,000 people being ordered to evacuate, about 60 kilometers from the Eaton and Palisades fires that ravaged California communities earlier this month. During the wildfires, a war of words erupted between Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom was particularly offended by Trump's claim in an inaugural address that "fires that were burning tragically just weeks ago with not even a hint of defense." Newsom stated, "That is nonsense and insulting. The bravery and heroism of firefighters from California, across the United States and North America, prevented a tragic wildfire from having unimaginable consequences for more families."