No Respect, No Money, We’ll See

On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threw down the gauntlet, sort of. He warned that “rogue state actors” who don’t cooperate with ICE and federal immigration officials may have to clean up the mess they created.

"The USDOT will not fund rogue state actors who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and to cities that stand by while rioters destroy transportation infrastructure — don’t expect a red cent from DOT, either.”

"Follow the law or forfeit the funding."

I want to believe Duffy—I really do—but this is one of those cases where I’ll have to see the declaration carried through before I believe it. There are far too many cases where the liberal Democrats are clearly wrong but are never punished. Frankly, it gets old watching them get away with everything.

With Gavin Newsom at the controls, California doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on. He constantly ignores federal law, and as a result, he has turned the entire state into a liberal graveyard. Despite the obvious destruction he and the liberal mayors within the state have wrought, they have avoided severe consequences.

It was no surprise that Los Angeles was the starting point as well as the main focal point of the riots concerning Trump’s ICE deportation policies. Newsom and the mayor of the city, Karen Bass, did nothing except fight Trump rather than enforce the law.

When issuing his warning, Duffy referenced President Trump's post on Truth Social when addressing the issue.

"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."

"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."

Duffy intimated that USDOT may ignore Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City.

In April, Duffy stated that federal grants require compliance with federal law.

"It shouldn’t be controversial – enforce our immigration rules, end anti-American DEI policies, and protect free speech. These values reflect the priorities of the American people, and I will take action to ensure compliance.”

Newsom spokesman Daniel Villaseñor dismissed Duffy's messaging, stating:

"Contrary to misinformation, California communicates and coordinates with federal immigration authorities when it involves individuals convicted of serious crimes."

"Since Gov. Newsom took office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has coordinated the transfer of over 10,588 individuals — including murderers, rapists, and other violent offenders — into ICE custody.”

Villaseñor stated that Sacramento will continue to adhere to state and federal laws, noting that Newsom's initiatives have been upheld twice by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

"This reflects an important balance to support community safety and effective policing, as well as keeping local resources focused on preventing and solving crime."

What Villaseñor didn’t say is that the Ninth Circuit Court is one of, if not the most liberal, court in the country.

Not surprisingly, Brandon Johnson, the Mayor of another suffering city, Chicago, continued his badmouthing of Trump and ICE for its actions.

Johnson, who is still hung up on slavery reparations, says that the Trump administration is acting as if it is essentially based in 19th-century Richmond rather than 21st-century Washington.

"There should be no question to what our country would look like had the Confederacy won – we're seeing it on full display.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams, who lately moves closer to the center on political issues when it suits him, took a different approach when speaking on "Fox & Friends." He indicated that his office and the NYPD have been directed not to permit anyone to hinder federal authorities in carrying out their duties, and that is exactly what they have accomplished.

"So, if you were those who were sitting in the roadway, blocking trucks, blocking pedestrians, or blocking parents from wanting to go to the job … it's not going to happen in the city."

The dazed, confused, and incompetent Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, told CNN that Trump doesn’t understand how connected immigrant labor is to her city’s workforce.

"The disruption and the fear that has been caused by the raids has really had a devastating effect and has been a body blow to our economy.”

Far too many American cities have an immigration problem that is ruining their economy and social structure. The term sanctuary city shouldn’t exist because no one should be here illegally. The Biden cabal took a problem and turned it into an invasion, which was aided and abetted by radical liberal governors and mayors across the country.

The radical methodology of the left needs to be removed, and that won’t happen with stern rhetoric. If Duffy wants to remain viable, he needs to follow up and turn threats into promises with the full backing of the Trump administration.

There can no longer be lines in the sand that continuously get moved. The left has crossed every line imaginable, and the cities that continue to vote these lunatics into office need to pay the price.