‘Silver Madness’: Conservative Watchdog Warns ‘Sanctuary’ Officials Ahead of Trump’s Deportation Push

FIRST ON FOX: A conservative legal group is calling attention to US “sanctuary” jurisdictions ahead of an expected mass deportation by the the incoming Trump administration.

America First Legal says it has notified nearly 250 officials in jurisdictions that limit or prohibit local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that there could be legal consequences for interfering with federal or harbor illegal immigrants.

President-elect Trump has promised to launch a “historic” deportation campaign when he’s in office, and his transition team has already taken concrete steps toward that goal. The president of America First Legal is Stephen Miller, who will serve as deputy chief of staff for policy in the Trump White House.

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But several Democratic officials in states including Arizona, Colorado, California and Massachusetts have said they will not cooperate with the operation. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has hinted that there could be legal consequences for those who stand in the way of the operation.

Proponents of sanctuary policies argue that local jurisdictions cannot be forced to help the government, and that prohibiting ICE cooperation encourages otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants to work with the police and report crimes, making the area safer. Opponents say the policies result in the release of criminals who might otherwise be deported back to the streets.

Notice from the AFL The letter to the 249 officials says the federal government has ultimate authority over immigration and points to clauses in federal law that prohibit state and local governments from restricting communications with DHS about immigration status, and that make harboring, harboring, or harboring an illegal immigrant is a federal crime.

The group argues that sanctuary policies can therefore lead to criminal liability and that victims of illegal immigrant crimes can sue for damages.

“We have identified their jurisdiction as jurisdiction of the sanctuary that violates federal law. This illegality subjects you and your subordinates to a significant risk of civil and criminal liability. Accordingly, we are sending this letter to warn you of this risk and to insist that you comply with our nation’s laws,” the letter reads.

The group also launches a new website which provides users with a map of “sanctuary strongholds,” identifying jurisdictions with sanctuary policies and providing contact information for elected officials.

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The group also announced that it has also filed a petition with the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women to seek citizenship status data and nationality information against those accused of a wide range of crimes against women and children, including domestic violence, murder and child abuse. He is also submitting requests to officials, including mayors and governors, across the US for information about organizations he believes are undermining federal immigration enforcement.

In a statement, America First Legal Senior Vice President Reed D. Rubenstein noted the recent detention of an illegal immigrant in New York City in connection with the death of a woman who was set on fire and burned as “another reminder that open borders and sanctuary jurisdictions are sheer madness.”

“The left-wing politicians who create and run them, and those who support them, put our citizens at risk, undermine our Constitution, and dangerously erode the rule of law. America First Legal will continue to work tirelessly to protect and support for our immigration laws. Today’s actions by the brave men and women who enforce them are just the first step in our fight against sanctuary lawlessness,” Rubenstein said.

The new ads highlight what could be a fierce fight between the Trump administration and its allies, and Democrats and left-leaning activists over the push for deportation and how far it can be resisted at the state and local level.

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Some have doubled down on their opposition, with the Boston City Council recently voting to limit ICE cooperation and prohibit police from detaining migrants for possible deportation unless there is a criminal warrant.

The resolution approved by the council states that “the proposed mass deportations represent a direct attack on Boston’s immigrant families and threaten to tear communities apart.”

Some Democratic officials, however, have indicated a willingness to work with the incoming administration. Homan met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams last week to discuss areas of potential cooperation, including the deportation of violent criminal illegal immigrants. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also said he wanted to see “violent undocumented criminals convicted of violent crimes” deported and said he would welcome a meeting with Homan.

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Fox News reported this month on new data provided to Congress that showed there is 1.4 million non-citizens who have orders of removal but are not currently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).