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* I submit my weekly syndicated newspaper column shortly after 4 o’clock every Friday. This is what I sent out Friday…
As I write this, multiple news outlets have reported the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to deploy its Special Response Teams to five major cities, including Chicago, in the very near future.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas told reporters last week: “There will be tactical teams, mini-tanks, other tools they use in which they plan to do raids, as we saw in Los Angeles.”
Last Thursday, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explained to reporters in Los Angeles the reasoning behind the massive federal response to sporadic violent protests against ICE in that city: “We are not going away,” Noem said. “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city.”
In other words, according to Noem, the federal government intends to “liberate” those Americans from their own duly elected state and local governments.
Immediately after Noem said that, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly dragged out of Noem’s media event by federal police and handcuffed when he identified himself and attempted to address Noem.
This “liberation” argument will undoubtedly be front and center in Chicago and Illinois if and/or when Noem’s ICE fully deploys into the city.
Thursday night, a three-judge federal appeals panel put on hold an order by a district court judge hours earlier that would’ve forced the federal government to relinquish control over 4,000 National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles.
Federal law (10 USC 12406) allows the president to federalize state national guards whenever he is “unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”
A hearing was scheduled on the lower court ruling, but it’s possible, perhaps even probable that we can expect the same attempt at federalizing our Illinois National Guard troops.
Gov. JB Pritzker said during a congressional committee hearing last Thursday he would “stand in the way” of Trump border adviser Tom Homan, “going after people who don’t deserve to be frightened in their communities, who don’t deserve to be threatened, terrorized. I would rather that he came and arrested me than do that to the people of my state.”
But there may not be a whole lot the governor can do when push literally comes to shove.
And not just this governor.
Because of ICE’s heightened presence in California, the National Guard issue and even the deployment of U.S. Marines, Gov. Gavin Newsom is the first line of defense for sanctuary states like Illinois, New York, etc.
Newsom filed the lawsuit to stop the federalizing of National Guard troops in his state. The governor and the Los Angeles mayor have both said sending in the National Guard has inflamed the local situation. But if President Donald Trump can maneuver himself into anything that he can convince himself is a “win,” then this tactic will surely continue.
“They don’t get [that governing is] not like the black and white of campaigning” said one person close to Pritzker about the Trump White House. “They are living on election night. And now they are creating a whole lot of chaos and lighting themselves on fire on an issue they had an advantage on.”
But holding out hope Newsom will be an effective firewall against this expansion of traditional presidential powers has its perils.
Political writers love writing about the guy, probably because he’s good-looking and a bit of a showboating goofball. Newsom makes for great copy and visuals, but his methods aren’t always sound.
Earlier this month, Newsom suggested via social media the state could withhold $80 billion in federal payments — equal to the difference between what the state receives from the federal government and what its taxpayers send to D.C. It’s a great soundbite, but it simply can’t be done. State governments don’t give money to the feds, taxpayers do.
“Tweeting is not policy,” explained a Newsom spokesperson two years ago when his governor tweeted the state was “done” doing business with Walgreens after the pharmacy chain announced it wouldn’t distribute an abortion pill to customers in states that were trying to block it. Newsom was forced to back away in the face of reality.
This is the same Democratic governor who fawned over Trump after the devastating southern California fires only to be denied federal help.
He’s the same guy who Trump said ought to be arrested last week.
That’s some firewall.
* CBS News on Saturday…
The Trump administration has directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to halt arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels amid concerns that the president’s crackdown on illegal immigration is hurting key industries, two sources familiar with the abrupt policy change told CBS News.
The pause on worksite immigration enforcement operations applies to the agricultural, hospitality and restaurant industries, which rely in large part on labor from immigrants, many of whom are in the U.S. unlawfully, the sources said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal actions.
The scaling back of some ICE operations reflects increased concern among industry leaders that the Trump administration’s aggressive and government-wide immigration crackdown was hindering their businesses and the broader U.S. economy by spooking their workforce.
It also marks a significant pivot for the Trump administration, which has vowed to deport millions of immigrants living in the country without legal status, regardless of whether they have criminal histories.
* President Donald Trump on Sunday…
Our Nation’s ICE Officers have shown incredible strength, determination, and courage as they facilitate a very important mission, the largest Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History. Every day, the Brave Men and Women of ICE are subjected to violence, harassment, and even threats from Radical Democrat Politicians, but nothing will stop us from executing our mission, and fulfilling our Mandate to the American People. ICE Officers are herewith ordered, by notice of this TRUTH, to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.
In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside. These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens. These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities — And they are doing a good job of it! There is something wrong with them. That is why they believe in Open Borders, Transgender for Everybody, and Men playing in Women’s Sports — And that is why I want ICE, Border Patrol, and our Great and Patriotic Law Enforcement Officers, to FOCUS on our crime ridden and deadly Inner Cities, and those places where Sanctuary Cities play such a big role. You don’t hear about Sanctuary Cities in our Heartland!
I want our Brave ICE Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day. The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos. That’s why I have directed my entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia. Our Federal Government will continue to be focused on the REMIGRATION of Aliens to the places from where they came, and preventing the admission of ANYONE who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States.
To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE! DJT
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 11:01 am
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== REAL Americans are cheering you on every day ==
I’m a real American and I am not, I assure you. And the No Kings protest proved that millions more do not.
Comment by Incandenza Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 11:08 am
“We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists”
Isn’t this literally civil war?
Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 11:11 am
Trump regularly says two contradictory things, them does what he wants and his fans then act like he kept his word. His fans may be half right, but only half
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 11:36 am
>> Isn’t this literally civil war?
No, not yet, because Noem is a troll who lives to throw red meat to the conservative media-sphere if they will give her favorable coverage. But that doesn’t mean she literally acts on what she says.
Unfortunately mere words do matter, because they help shift perceptions, and maybe help validate future actions, so I agree this rhetoric is outrageous and a continued pattern of it is super dangerous.
Comment by ZC Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:04 pm
So the president wants to round up all the immigrants except for the farm workers, restaurants staff, and hotel employees. So selective enforcement. Such a dog and pony show from Washington.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:11 pm
If the Supremacy Clause means anything on the subject of immigration, the Federal laws are superior to State and Local laws. It is interesting to listen to so many Blue State Governors and Mayors arguing about “States Rights.”
Comment by State Sovereignty National Union Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:12 pm
===the Federal laws are superior to State and Local laws===
No federal laws exist to mandate state/local enforcement of civil immigration matters.
You write big words, but you don’t seem to understand them.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:15 pm
This was a great column by Rich. Immigration law is the domain of the federal government. Chicago might not like this but there’s not much they can do about.
Comment by Steve Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:17 pm
-No federal laws exist to mandate state/local enforcement of civil immigration matters.-
A very true statement. It’s what federalism is all about.
Comment by Steve Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:19 pm
== If the Supremacy Clause means anything on the subject of immigration, the Federal laws are superior to State and Local laws. It is interesting to listen to so many Blue State Governors and Mayors arguing about “States Rights.”==
It’s more interesting to listen to modern day Republicans argue that the Federal government should be able to mandate that State and local government enforce Federal laws. The long-standing (since the beginning) anti-commandeering doctine says otherwise, with the modern case law reaffirming that being a second amendment case authored by Scalia. Are modern day republicans now for undoing that case and weakening the second amendment?
Comment by fs Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:55 pm
==if the supremacy clause means anything==
Is that why Texas was allowed by federal courts to conduct their own immigration raids and to ship immigrants all over the country without coordinating with anyone?
Now Trump wants to find the people who rode on those busses. Maybe he should ask Greg Abbot where he sent them.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 12:59 pm
If the federal govt. can make state and local law enforcement enforce federal laws on immigration, couldn’t that be used by the same federal govt. to require state and local law enforcement to shut down legal marijuana businesses in every state that’s legalized it?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 1:36 pm
Thank you Socially Distant Watcher. You hit the nail on the head. The problem in the United States of America is “conservatism” is a Rorschach Test. It means whatever they/them want it to mean whenever they/them feel like it.
Comment by Jerry Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 1:39 pm
I would argue that we need to be liberated from the federal government.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 2:21 pm
The president may have to widen the scope of his exceptions. For instance, building construction, maintenance workers, and landscape employees who plant, maintain and trim lawns throughout the cities and suburbs. Also, workers who clean windows in high rise buildings throughout the cities.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 3:27 pm
JB is going to learn that his “happy warrior” act is extremely fragile
Comment by 312 Lawyer Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 4:23 pm
The Federal Government can not force State governments to enforce Federal Laws … except in the case of the clearly (or not so clearly) rights enumerated in the US Constitution.
At the same time, State Governments can not interfere with the Federal government enforcing Federal law.
What we are going to see is a lot of legal action that will eventually define exactly where those lines are in terms of immigration.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 5:05 pm
===State Governments can not interfere with the Federal government enforcing Federal law===
And this isn’t happening.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 5:12 pm
…and factories and slaughterhouses and…literally everywhere else. Trump wants to make a big deal about these arrests and deportations, but he’s finding out quickly that our economy runs on immigrant labor. You can gin up hatred against immigrants but can’t do anything about it. But maybe that is all that the GOP wants, anyway.
Comment by Jibba Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 5:24 pm