The current administration’s disregard for the law and protocols is well established at this point. The latest example is the president’s recent threat to “dump” detainees in California’s sanctuary cities and counties. According to the Los Angeles Times, the President has recently tweeted and spoken publicly about this, even though this would be illegal.
“California certainly is always saying, ‘Oh, we want more people,’” Trump told reporters during an unrelated White House event Friday. “And they want more people in their sanctuary cities. Well, we’ll give them more people. We can give them a lot. We can give them an unlimited supply. Let’s see if they’re so happy.”
The idea would be to bus migrants currently in overburdened detention centers near the border to the sanctuary places, although it seems to be more speculation on the president’s part than an actual plan.
Governor Gavin Newsom said of the idea: “It is illegal. It is immoral. It is unethical. It is sophomoric. It is petulant. And it is par for the course.”
Other politicians pointed out that this threat highlighted:
- The administration’s willingness to engage in partisan politics
- Its blatant disregard for the rights of migrants
- Its ability to find cruel solutions to problems of its own making
Is there a plan?
According to the Washington Post, an unnamed source at the Department of Homeland Security says that there is no plan to follow through on the president’s threat. Moreover, much of the rhetoric seems to be inspired by presidential advisor Stephan Miller, who grew up in Santa Monica and is well known for his extreme views regarding immigration.
The president has followed through on other bad ideas in the past, the recent government shutdown comes to mind, so this relocation could begin before the courts would stop it. Those with family members in detention centers are advised to monitor the news and to also check with a knowledgeable immigration law attorney to help ensure that migrants’ rights and well-being are protected.
