THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Democratic governors and other liberal elected officials have lined up to declare that they will fight back against President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line agenda against illegal immigration.
Trump, who won the Nov. 5 election, has promised to conduct mass deportations across the country and withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities, along with a slate of other hawkish enforcement proposals.
However, Democratic governors in Massachusetts, California, and Illinois—all seen as potential 2028 presidential contenders—and other elected leaders have said they will use their authority to push back against the upcoming second Trump administration’s agenda.
“I think that the key here is that every tool in the toolbox has got to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said to MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell after Trump’s victory.
Healey confirmed that Massachusetts State Police would “absolutely not” help the Trump administration’s deportation plans.
The entire state of Massachusetts is already described as a “sanctuary” haven by the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based group that supports enforcement of immigration law and tracks sanctuary laws and policies.
Healey’s reluctance to help the incoming administration’s enforcement efforts follows her state’s struggles with the ongoing border crisis, having publicly asked illegal immigrants not to go to her state and offered plane tickets for them to leave.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom called Nov. 7 for a special session of the state Legislature to “protect California values” from the incoming Trump administration.
“The special session will focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families,” a statement from the governor’s office reads. “On immigrant protection, California has advanced policies that support immigrant families and is investing in their protection.”
Like Massachusetts, the entire state of California is also deemed a “sanctuary” jurisdiction for statewide policies that forbid cooperation between local law enforcement officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Newsom’s office told The Associated Press that the special session for lawmakers will help “Trump-proof” the state’s laws.
In addition to conducting the “largest deportation program in American history,” Trump has also said he would end birthright citizenship for those born on American soil by illegal migrant parents, bring back the “Remain in Mexico” program, hire more Border Patrol agents, and establish a compensation fund for victims of what he calls migrant crime.
The president-elect announced late Sunday that he was picking former ICE acting Acing director Tom Homan to be the border czar in the new administration, making clear the upcoming administration will be adopting a tough stance on enforcement.
The president-elect announced late Sunday that he was picking former ICE acting Director Tom Homan to be the border czar in the new administration, making clear it will adopt a tough stance on enforcement.
“To anyone who intends to come take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said during a press conference after Trump’s victory. “You come for my people, you come through me.”
Pritzker said Illinois would remain a sanctuary state and vowed to take the second Trump administration to court if it attempts to withhold federal funds over the issue. The president-elect has pledged to force sanctuary cities and jurisdictions to cooperate with immigration authorities by stripping them of federal public safety grants.
Numerous local Democratic elected officials have also signaled that they will do what they can to stymie Trump’s agenda on illegal immigration, with several members of the Los Angeles City Council saying that they will fast-track passage of a sanctuary city ordinance, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles legislation, still under review by city attorneys, would prohibit federal immigration enforcement officials from accessing Los Angeles databases.
A spokesperson for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, did not immediately respond to a request for comment when asked by the Daily Caller News Foundation if she would support the bill.
Many liberal organizations have also declared they are ready and waiting to fight the Trump administration tooth and nail, including the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU has filed over 400 legal actions against Trump and his previous administration since 2016, a large portion targeting immigration directives from Trump’s first term.
“Starting on Day One, we’re ready to fight for our civil liberties and civil rights in the courts, in Congress, and in our communities,” the ACLU said after Trump’s election victory. “We did it during his first term—filing 434 legal actions against Trump while he was in office—and we’ll do it again.”
Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation
Reprinted with permission from The Daily Signal by Jason Hopkins.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
If anyone wants to come to America and does it through proper channels, I don’t have an issue. However anyone bypassing proper channels, smuggling drugs, people, or convicted felons who wouldn’t qualify for asylum or citizenship should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and blocked from entering America under any circumstances.
these democrats are admitting that they’re going to obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws. How is this not a crime? These politicians should be held accountable for any additional crimes committed by illegal migrants because, for all intents and purposes, they will be accessories to those crimes.
Hmmm. the resistance is rising. Maybe withhold Federal funds from those states and let their state budgets support illegal immigrants. However, the Good Word states that the nation should support the aliens in the land. The Federal government really needs to eliminate welfare to those families that have been receiving welfare checks for many generations without ever finding work.
I would tell all the states like Massachusetts that if your precious illegals are more important to you than federal dollars (our tax money) then so-be-it! The old saying of money talks and bull-dung walks will expose all of you pretty darn quickly! You will not be allowed to have it both ways! It’s easy for you to bloviate right now but Jan 21st is coming fast!
Sounds to me that Trump will need to force compliance with US immigration laws by declaring martial law and using the military to deport and and arrest the scofflaw Governors for prosecution! Just the name Laken Riley is enough to force compliance!
Have they all gone crazy, this Illinois Governor calls Illegals “his people” and threatens Pres. Trump if he goes after illegals in his State? These ILLEGALS are not citizens of your State Governor and your duty is to protect your citizens and not the criminals that victimized them. Same with CA Governor and other sanctuary city governors. I guess they don’t want to be re-elected because we are tired of traitors in our government. In this past election, the people have shown you ingrates, that WE THE PEOPLE ARE YOUR BOSS. Get down on your high horse and do the people’s will and not your own flawed will. May you be blessed with wisdom from God.
Start locken ’em up for breaking federal laws. It’ll only take a couple governors or mayors being perp walked to prison to make the others start to fall in line.
I definitely would hold back funds to these states. They take away from citizens, subjecting them to more crime, using their tax dollars to take care of the illegals. I say remove these states from the US, however we would have to have more walls. I would like to ask these people what democracy is. It is for the US citizens to have their freedoms and peace! The lefties keep using democracy, I bet half do not know what that means!
The democrats are doing their best to burn this nation to the ground.Since they are not in power now, they will implement Cloward/Piven to destroy the economy. Look it up. The destruction of America by overloading and crashing the social system. I have no idea why they hate this country and middle class Americans so much, but they do. They will do everything they can to make sure middle class America can not prosper. All you have to do is say lets make America great and they go into convulsions. They are truly the epitome of evil . . .
I live in CA and there is not a soul that likes or agrees with Newsom. He’s a criminal himself and must go!! I was on the recall committee and he was voted OUT but then Aunt Nancy came to his rescue with enough money to cheat his way to stay as gov. He’s demonic.
Healey Pritzker and Newsome need ro read and obey the U.S. Constitution or face charges Removal from office and about 5 years in A Federal prison would teach them that they are not beyond the law.Their arrogance is beyond belief.
Anyone shielding illegals should be prosecuted. Our laws should be upheld and enter this country LEGALLY.
No federal funds for the cities or states that continue to harbor illegals. It will be a different story when the funding runs out.
If these states want illegals so bad then let them pay for it. I live in California and am ashamed as to what this state represents. I truly hope President Trump removes all federal funding on all levels coming to California. Let govener nematode take his battles to court while President Trump holds all funding. The communist of this state have already put California in the hole, let’s see how it can last with zero funds from the federal government.
When illegals commit crimes (Laken Riley), Can these governors who shield them or let them go be arrested for aiding and abetting crimes? New York’s Hochul has blood on her hands for allowing the release of the illegal who murdered Laken Riley.
Just another example how Democrats hate America.
These liberal democrats can dish it out but can’t take it. It’d be nice if they quit acting like kindergarteners but that is an insult to kindergarteners
Let them try . Illegal alien lawbreakers need to go!
Even WhatsApp is telling Illegal Aliens to hurry up and enter the U.S. and how to enter. NO BS.
Democrat Governors have already violated their Oath of Office, law, and Constitution by protecting Illegal Aliens by showing they have no respect for our laws and our country.
Democrats continue to give aid and comfort to Illegal Aliens with our tax dollars while Americans suffer and die from biden/harris Illegal Alien Terrorist Invasion including from their INFLATION. They’re determined to get more Illegal Alien votes before the next election for Power and Control which is all they care about.
The democrats continue to destroy our country as much as possible before President-Elect Trump is Sworn In.
OPEN YOUR EYES AMERICA. RAISE Hell over WhatsApp giving Aid and Comfort to Illegal Alien Terrorist Criminals entering our country Illegally with the help of democrats.
The picture at the top reminds me of the Great Wall of China, a wall as up and over the mountains as far as you can see with Mexicans on the trail in Mexico and the wall protecting the USA and American legal Citizens on the safe side. The back packs could be filled with Cartel drugs that kill Americans. They need to remain in Mexico or go home wherever that may be, Venezuls, China, Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador, etc.
Go home and defend you own country and take it back for your homeland!!. If you die trying make it worth it,
If they shield illegals they should be arrested by the feds for treason and treated accordingly. A few arrest and incarcerations and the whole thing would fall apart. None of these fools could handle incarceration.
I don’t understand how they can ignore our constitution and their oaths of office. No one who is not a citizen is to vote. So how can those officials support them, especially using tax payers money? This is not acceptable!
Why is it that illegal aliens are above the law, but American citizens are not?
Even the a-holes in Massachusetts are sick of paying bills for illegal immigrants. Time to vote out these clowns like Maura Healey who think she is spending her money, not the taxpayers money!
Is there any way we can deport those that don’t follow the Constitution?
These democrats are traitors.
What these democrat “governors” are doing is flat out treason. They’re deliberately trying to form an illegal “voting” base to continue the destruction of this Constitutional Republic.A quote by Nancy Pelosi: “Well everyone should be able to vote.” We have a Constitution and Bill of Rights…for CITIZENS. They have deliberately and with malice allowed millions of unvetted strangers into our nation, many who are known violent criminals, drug dealers, RE: border guards and border watchers: “young Chinese men of military age”. One estimate is that multiple other nations have invaded our country. When are We the people going to put pressure on those leftist, anti-American “governors” to have them also tried for High Treason. Is not endangering the legitimate citizens of this nation being done by “american” governors? It’s treason.
How about President Trump charging each one of these jackasses with TREASON?
They talk about the rule of law on one side of their mouth, while the other side of the mouth says they are continuing to support illegal migration.
We should absolutely fill up those sanctuary states with all the illegal immigrants. Walk across the border go to Massachusetts. Walk across the border will fly into California Oregon.
This is the open anti American anti citizen anti voter attitude Those people are to be protecting the citizens of their states from harm and crime. Instead they invite the evil in. Is there no law to deal with that? Those are the same people who would not shut up about the dangers of covid So called democrats lost the election for a reason , have they not learned anything? Now would be a good time to begin the examination of the soul of their party and why were they rejected Thick as a plank.
I hope they like their prison sentences!
“I think that the key here is that every tool in the toolbox has got to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle,”
I agree with this statement and that is exactly what Trump will be doing. Illegal aliens are NOT citizens, or residents or immigrants, they are in this country illegally and WE the CITIZENS have every right to demand they be deported. and. Trump has ever right to have anyone who attempts to harbor any illegal alien(s) arrested.
And we’re the danger to this democracy???
While aggressively deporting the illegal criminal scum, send all the non-violent illegals to EVERY BLUE STATE AND CITY across the country until the Leftist ‘leaders’ in those States change their philosophy and beg, on their hands and knees, for relief AND admit they drank the Kool Aid, they were foolishly dead wrong, and were blinded by their hatred for Trump. If they’re too prideful and arrogant to publicly admit these things, let them go bankrupt taking care of the ILLRGALS.
Aiding and abetting.
Those idiots who aid and abet illegals who are here violating Federal laws should themselves be charged as accessories to these crimes, convicted, and sentenced to an appropriate amount of time at “Club Fed” (federal prison) to think seriously about their dysfunctional mindsets and hopefully rehab themselves while there.
Sneaking through is not a way to stay in this country. We are a country built on laws, and people obeying those laws. If you are here illegally, you don’t belong here, and must therefore leave either voluntarily or by force.
The states are trying to go around national law. The people have spoken, they don’t want illegal immigrants in our country. They are soaking up resources and committing crimes that otherwise would not have occurred.
Law breaking, law breaking, bla, bla, bla….. Nobody’s shocked anymore about “democrat” lawbreaking… but they all DO need to be arrested when they break our laws.
The author missed the slum on the Left Coast known as Washington and its long-term dictator, King Inslee, who has been supporting illegal activity with the tax dollars he steals from hard working, LEGAL citizens!
ITS LONG PAST TIME THESE FOLKS ARE CHARGED WITH RICO CRIMES!
cut off every federal dollar to those cities and states. not a damn dime to any of them.
It is obvious to those of us with common sense, once Trump attains POTUS status illegal, criminal border-jumpers will naturally gravitate to woke, democrat states and cities pursuing this anti-American, anti-Constitutional path of preferential treatment of criminals over legal, tax-paying citizens, veterans, and the elderly. FJB-FKH-F the woke democrats, America and Americans first!
Legal citizens elected President Trump for a reason,blue state governors really need to pay attention.On second thought maybe people will wake up and vote the blue bunch out,way out.
Yes Democrats will gladly impose hardship on American citizens if it interferes with their agenda. Who is going to shield the American citizens from the ill effects of open border policies and sanctuary cities?
If you do not cooperate in the enforcement of Federal Law, you will receive no Federal funding – Period!
Maura Healey a presidential candidate in 2028? Someone is smoking a very high grade of hashish to make that statement. She has spent more than $1Billion of the Commonwealth taxpayers’ money to shelter illegals, none of which was voted on. She is possibly one of the most hated governors the country. She is turning our pristine offshore seas into industrial junk with the development of wind farms, using the guise of the climate change ideology. More than 2 million acres of seabed has been leased to mostly Norwegian developers, the most arrogant people on earth. A group of these foreign developers announced last December at a clients office that they had just accepted the Chinese as partners after Healey provided millions in tax incentives and other subsidies or benefits for the developers.Of twelve bidders,only two are American companies. How about Healey for trash collector? President Trump should put her in stocks on the stairs to the State House.
All of those who voted for Trump should fight the democrats,and never stop. If we never give up maybe the idiots will finally realize that they can never win. We could also ignore every crooked thing they try to do, and do what we have a right to do. We just can never give in. These are wicked people.
It appears all the squawking, complaining, and anti-American rhetoric is comming from borned, bread and systemic, racist democrats. First, the USA is a democratic REPUBLIC, not a Democratic government; Second, it was identified under the “rule of law” by President Clinton (read it!), and Third; the legal citizens of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are part of those states, consequently the governors of said states have not jurisdiction over “We The People” to separate any state without the “UNITED” WE THE PEOPLE OF THE “UNITED” STATES OF AMERICA. Governors, lawyers, judges, and appointed leaders seem to thing they are royalty in positions they buy into somehow. THEY NEED REDRESS AND REDUCED TO A LOWER LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE…JUST BELOW “WE THE PEOPLE!”
Children born on American soil , does NOT MEAN illegals that birth a child here in the USA . It was in the Constitution in regards to children of slaves AFTER emancipation … The Dem’s once again TWISTED the meaning so they can over run us with illegal.s . Eisenhower had to deport 700,000.. So , its not a new idea . Mark Levin had a program on the many ways The Evil Doers have bent the laws for their will . Thank you GOD for Donald J Trump !
Anyone who shields, shelters, feeds, clothes, etc., illegal aliens must be immediately arrested as the traitors they are. I’m sick of this BS. These a$$hats are trying to destroy our Country. They are TRAITORS and must be treated as such.
Entering the country without permission with the intent to stay is a crime. Aiding and abetting illegal aliens in committing this crime is also a crime. These people, governments, and NGOs that are helping illegal aliens break our laws should be held accountable in criminal court.