Donald Trump’s threat to send asylum-seeking immigrants to sanctuary cities is wrong on so many levels that it is hard to know where to begin to comment. This is often the case with him.
It would be an abuse of power. The duty of a President is to enforce the law impartially, not as a means of harming his enemies. Trump treats the U.S. government like a company he has acquired in a hostile takeover.
It is vicious. Trump speaks of human beings as if they were a kind of vermin to be loosed on his enemies. Whatever you may think about immigration policy, this is wrong.
It goes against his professed goals. If you really think the United States is “full up” and has no room for additional people, it is stupid to direct unauthorized immigrants to places where they will be welcomed and helped.
It may well not amount to anything. President Trump has a history of stirring up controversies, then walking away and pretending he never said what he said.
It keeps Trump in the spotlight. Trump’s great talent is for focusing news coverage and political debate on whatever topic he chooses to raise at the moment.
It may be to his political advantage. The big issues that helped Trump get elected were immigration and foreign trade. So long as these issues are in the public eye, he benefits—at least so long as the opposition fails to come up with acceptable alternatives.
LINKS
Donald Trump Doubles Down on Plan to Release Migrants to Sanctuary Cities by Fernanda Echavarri for Mother Jones.
Trump Targets Legal, Illegal Immigrants in Latest Push by Jill Cohen and Coleen Long for NBC 5 in Dallas.
Tags: Donald Trump, Immigration Enforcement, Sanctuary Cities
Phil Ebersole's Blog 
April 16, 2019 at 7:05 pm |
I’m not sure of the reasoning here. Sending them to sanctuary cities still means they are here. They will less vulnerable to deportation, protected by laws and even welcomed. Their future children will still be US citizens. I’m not sure what he gains.
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