Monday, April 15, 2019
By Gary Bauer
President Trump once again dominated the immigration debate over the last several days when reports leaked out that he was interested in sending illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities.
The president tweeted, "The Radical Left always seems to have an Open Borders, Open Arms policy — so this should make them very happy!"
You'd think so, right? Yet for days now, many progressive leaders have been denouncing Trump for daring to suggest he just might give them what they want.
The mayor of Seattle called Trump "a despot." A spokeswoman for Nancy Pelosi, who represents the sanctuary city of San Francisco, blasted the president's idea as "cruel," "warped" and "despicable."
Not long ago, Cher urged progressives to adopt DACA recipients and to give these illegal immigrants "sanctuary" in their homes. But in response to Trump's latest suggestion, Cher tweeted this:
"I Understand Helping struggling Immigrants, but MY CITY (Los Angeles) ISN'T TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN. WHAT ABOUT THE 50,000+ Citizens WHO LIVE ON THE STREETS. PPL WHO LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINE, & HUNGRY? If My State Can't Take Care of Its Own (Many Are VETS) How Can it Take Care Of More."
That's a great question. It deserves a real debate. I commend the president for getting at least one Hollywood liberal to focus on the impact of open borders on ordinary Americans.
Let me briefly remind you of what President Trump has tried to do.
- He wanted full funding for a border wall to stop illegal immigration. Progressives in Congress gave him as little as possible.
- He wanted to station more troops at the border. But liberal governors pulled their National Guard troops and some deep state officials in the Pentagon resisted.
- He wanted migrants claiming asylum to wait in Mexico while their claims were adjudicated. But a liberal judge blocked him.
- He tried to end Obama's unconstitutional DACA program. But liberal judges blocked him.
- He tried to block funding to sanctuary cities. But a liberal judge blocked him.
- He offered a very generous immigration deal exchanging protections for DACA recipients for border wall funding. Congressional liberals blocked it.
I think you get the point.
And what has the left proposed? Well, nothing really. In spite of record apprehensions, left-wing politicians insist there's no crisis at the border.
The left's radical agenda is deeply unpopular. For example:
- 76% of voters oppose open borders.
- 71% of voters oppose letting illegal immigrants vote in local elections.
- 64% of voters oppose sanctuary cities.
- Only 25% of voters support abolishing ICE.
President Trump is keeping the issue of illegal immigration front and center in the national debate.
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