California Attorney General challenges decision to end DACA with lawsuit

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- During a morning press conference from Sacramento, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the state was challenging the Trump administration's decision to rescind protections for undocumented people brought to the United States illegally as children.

"It's palpable here in California," Becerra announced. "I don't have to explain that to you. We know what it means to be in a state that welcomes people who work hard, who want to build this state, so we need to fight for them."

The lawsuit comes a week after 15 other states and the District of Columbia first filed suit to defend Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program - or DACA.

According to Becerra, President Trump's order violates the Constitution and would have a negative impact on California's economy.

"I'm doing what I think I must do for the 40 million people of California," he argued. "There is no state that will be more economically impacted for the Trump's unconstitutional and illegal termination of DACA than California."

Campuses across the state could also be hurt by Trump's decision, including Fresno City College.

"We have close to a thousand DACA students on campus," college president Dr. Carole Goldsmith said. "It is a great concern for us and it makes a lot of our students nervous."

Goldsmith is hopeful the Trump Administration and Congress will reach a solution that would benefit all students -- including DACA students.

"I stand with our state chancellor and our local Chancellor and knowing our Congress will do the right thing and create a program that will lead to a path to citizenship," he said. "I'm hopeful our legislators in Washington will do the right thing."