US ATTORNEY General Jeff Sessions was expected to talk to police officials in Sacramento, California, today as the federal government sues the state for enacting laws that protect people living in the country illegally.

It is the most severe act yet in the Trump administration’s bid to force so-called sanctuary cities and states to co-operate with immigration authorities.

The US Justice Department is challenging three California laws that, among other things, bar police from asking people about their citizenship status or participating in federal immigration enforcement activities.