Gavin Newsom should get out of Trump's way in LA
What Donald Trump is doing is enforcing the law. By sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents into Los Angeles to arrest undocumented immigrants and then sending in the National Guard to restore order after riots erupted, Trump is doing nothing more than his job, something the Biden administration and Newsom himself largely abdicated.
Joe Biden's border policies – somewhere between an open invitation and abject surrender before a late-term reversal – allowed waves of unwelcome migrants to enter the United States, millions of them, making it necessary for a tough surge of enforcement around the country to restore some respect for our borders. Gavin Newsom's sanctuary state policies made sure that plenty of that enforcement would need to take place in California.
If Newsom didn't want to see flash bang grenades deployed in Los Angeles restaurant kitchens and heavily armed federal agents in donut shops and Home Depots, maybe he shouldn't have spent billions of taxpayer dollars making California a more welcoming home for people who broke the law.
The biggest move he made was to spend the state into a deficit offering Medical (California's version of Medicaid) to those without legal status. It is a decision he has tried to partially reverse as the budget impact became clear.
More appalling was a law passed by California's Democrat-dominated legislature to make undocumented immigrants eligible for six-figure housing down payment assistance or making poor citizens complete with the undocumented for scarce work-study opportunities at state universities and community colleges. You know, the places of education where citizens of El Salvador and Mexico already got cheaper tuition than those interloper immigrants from Missouri or Idaho.
Newsom says 'Commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral.' That's not exactly right. It wasn't 'illegal and immoral' for Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson to use commandeered National Guard units to enforce civil rights laws in 1965. And it isn't now for the threat to American sovereignty caused by Biden's feckless border policy and the violent reaction to efforts to rectify it, dangers just as grave as Alabama civil rights scofflaws were a half century ago. In both cases, protests threatened to derail the enforcement of federal law.
And while Newsom says the National Guard is an unneeded provocation, the LA police chief has had second thoughts. 'Looking at the violence today, I think we've got to make a reassessment,' Jim McDonnell, told The New York Times.
He's right. The Guard hasn't engaged with protestors yet, but they are an important backstop to the police who face not only local riots but the threat that others with broader anti-American agendas will come to take advantage of the chaos caused by the original timorous response from California law enforcement.
It is unclear what message rioters were sending by setting multiple Waymo taxis on fire in downtown LA, but it is surely clear that unmanned transportation isn't exactly a symbol of Trump administration overreach. Maybe the violent protestors have more in mind than a confrontation over immigration enforcement. That was certainly the case in the violent riots over the murder of George Floyd that killed nine and cost billions.
I have my problems with the Trump approach to immigration. Afghan patriots who served our military in trying to tame that terrorist-infested land deserve our thanks, not the boot. The U.S. has a long history of welcoming those who flee communism. Why that doesn't apply to Venezuelans, I don't know. Kicking out either group seems kinda dumb. And the policy of refusing to allow China to send full-fair paying students to our schools to subsidize American students' education doesn't make much fiscal sense to me.
But if America is to return to its roots as a land built on exploiting the hard work, innovations and and entrepreneurialism of wave after wave of migrants, we have to have a reckoning over the lawlessness of the Biden years. It might get ugly in some cases, but in trying his best to kick out undocumented immigrants, Trump is only doing what we elected him for. Gavin Newsom should get out of the way.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US-Mexico border wall to be painted black to stop climbers
The entire US-Mexico border wall will be painted black to make it hotter and harder to climb, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said, crediting the idea to President Donald Trump. While domestic detentions and deportations have been the primary focus of the current immigration crackdown, Trump's policy bill passed earlier this summer also allocated $46m (£34m) for additional wall construction. About a half mile (0.8km) of wall is going up each day along the nearly 2,000 mile (3,218km) border, according to Noem. The number of border crossings has plummeted in recent months, and the Trump administration says sweeping arrests and detentions are acting as a deterrent to illegal migration. Speaking to reporters along a section of the border in New Mexico, Noem said on Tuesday that the black paint was "specifically at the request of the president". "[He] understands that in the hot temperatures down here, when something is painted black it gets even warmer and it will make it even harder for people to climb," she added. Border Patrol officials also say that black paint will help prevent the wall from rusting. Additionally, Noem said the administration is planning to install more "waterborne infrastructure" along the Rio Grande, which makes up more than half of the border between the two countries. While Noem did not provide any more details on those projects, Texas authorities have previously installed floating barriers - large orange buoys - and fortified riverbank fencing guarded by state troopers, local police officers and the Texas National Guard along parts of the river. Crossings and detentions of undocumented immigrants have plummeted since Trump returned to the office, with record lows of approximately 4,600 in July and 6,000 in June - a 92% year-on-year reduction. During the Biden administration, detentions sometimes spiked to averages of 6,000 per day. Earlier in August, Noem said that a total of 1.6m undocumented immigrants have left the US during the first 200 days of the Trump administration, although she did not specify how many have been deported and how many left on their own. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier in August that a total of 300,000 undocumented immigrants had been detained in the interior of the US since January. While the administration continues to say it is prioritising those with criminal histories, immigration advocates have warned that many with no criminal charges or only minor infractions have been caught up in the sweeps. White House officials also contend that increased border security and mass deportations have been deterrents, saying they are the primary reason for plummeting figures at the US-Mexico border. US strikes deportation deals with Honduras and Uganda US offers up to $50k bonus for would-be ICE deportation officers Watch: US builds new wall at Mexico border
Bloomberg
27 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Gold Holds Gain After Trump Says Fed Governor Cook Should Quit
Gold held a gain after President Donald Trump's call for a Federal Reserve governor to quit raised fresh concerns about the central bank's independence, bolstering haven demand. Bullion traded above $3,342 an ounce, after gaining nearly 1% following Trump's demand that Lisa Cook resign over a mortgage fraud allegation. Should she quit, it would give the president an opportunity to appoint a more dovish governor. Still, Cook signaled her intention to remain at the central bank.
Boston Globe
29 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
These states could redistrict before the 2026 midterms
Advertisement Republicans hold a 219-212 House majority, with four vacancies, and any change to the congressional map could determine which party controls the 119th Congress. Right now, the math favors Republicans, as red states have more opportunities to shift district lines to their advantage before the midterms. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Here's a look at some of the potential targets and the steps involved to change political boundaries in these states. Texas Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, surrounded by fellow Republicans as he faced off with Democrats during debate over a redrawn US congressional map in Texas, during a special session on Wednesday. Eric Gay/Associated Press Texas The redistricting battle began with Texas, where Trump originally pressed Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to draw a new congressional boundaries with more safely red seats. The state legislature has control over drawing district boundaries, so the governor called a special session in early August to create and vote on a new map. The resulting proposed map would give Republicans five potential pickups in the House. Advertisement A majority of the state's Democratic lawmakers broke quorum by leaving the state, delaying a vote on the new map. Republicans subsequently kicked off a second special session after the first session ended Aug. 15, and most Democrats who had fled the state returned to Texas on Monday. Republicans later introduced two additional map tweaks, and the legislature Republicans control 25 of Texas's 38 House seats. The new map is more partisan — each of these new districts recorded double-digit vote margins in the 2024 presidential election, so none will be considered especially competitive. Two Democratic House members from Texas — Rep. Henry Cuellar in the 28th District and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in the 34th — currently represent districts that split the ticket and favored Trump in 2024. Both districts have been redrawn to shift further to the right. California California was the second state to jump into the redistricting battle. In response to the potential Republican pickups in Texas, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and state Democrats have proposed a new map that would potentially turn five House seats blue, evening the score with the actions in Texas. But implementing any new maps off-schedule in California Advertisement California Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher spoke in opposition to Democrats' plan to advance a partisan effort to redraw the state's congressional map at a press conference on Monday. Tran Nguyen/Associated Press The current map in California is deeply blue, with Democrats holding all but nine of the state's 52 House seats. But many of the districts are considered competitive. In 2024, the presidential vote margin in 15 congressional districts was 10 points or less. The proposed map introduced by Democrats shifted most of the state's competitive districts toward the left. Indiana Vice President JD Vance visited GOP-controlled Indiana this month to discuss redrawing its congressional map, which could net Republicans one more seat. State law limits congressional map drawing to the first legislative session after the decennial census; however, Republicans have a supermajority in the state legislature and could easily change the law. GOP state lawmakers have seemed hesitant to shake up the state's political boundaries, but increased pressure from the White House could shift their stance. The most vulnerable seat is likely in the 1st District, which includes the edges of suburban Chicago. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (D) won reelection there by eight points in 2024, but the district favored Democrat Kamala Harris by less than half a percentage point in the 2024 race. Ohio Redistricting is already on the table this year in Ohio, as the state is required to create a new congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms. Congressional maps in Ohio must be approved by a supermajority in the legislature, but neither party has been able to agree on a new map since the state Supreme Court struck down the map drawn after the 2020 Census. In 2022, the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted a map that could be used only until 2026. Advertisement The timing in Ohio couldn't be better for Republicans pushing to pick up more House seats ahead of 2026. Three of the state's Democratic-controlled districts had single-digit vote margins in the 2024 presidential election. Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Strong Sykes are probably the most vulnerable Democrats in any new maps, as both won by narrow margins in 2024. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (left) joined Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu, along with other members of the Texas House, while they spoke about Texas Republican's plans to redraw the House map, on August 3. Mark Black/Associated Press Illinois Illinois jumped into the redistricting story when Gov. JB Pritzker (D) invited Texas House Democrats to stay in suburban Chicago after they left their state to stall the Republicans redistricting efforts. Pritzker has been vocal about the redistricting battle nationally, and Illinois state lawmakers have full control of the map-drawing process. But the impact of any map changes could be limited here — Democrats hold 14 out of the state's 17 House seats, and the map is already carved largely in Democrats' favor. Missouri Republicans are considering Missouri a possible target for redistricting ahead of 2026. The legislature could introduce new maps in September during its annual veto session. State Republicans may try to squeeze an additional red seat by carving up the 5th District, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D). This solid blue district, which includes Kansas City, heavily favored Harris in 2024. Carving up Kansas City for a new GOP seat would leave only one solid blue district in Missouri — the 1st District around St. Louis. That is a majority-minority district and protected by the Voting Rights Act. Florida Florida's congressional map has shifted in favor of Republicans in recent years. The GOP picked up four additional seats after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) pushed state lawmakers to redraw the map in 2022. Advertisement Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) told state lawmakers he is creating a 'select committee' on congressional redistricting, and a few more districts could shift toward the GOP. But the state constitution has a 'Fair Districts' amendment that says districts cannot be drawn to favor any one political party, and any changes to the map could be challenged in court. Five congressional districts had 2024 presidential vote margins within 10 points, and all of those seats are held by Democrats. Maeve Reston, Patrick Marley, Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez contributed to this report. Data analysis by Lenny Bronner. Presidential results for the proposed new districts are from a Washington Post analysis of 2024 precinct election results and data from Redistricting Partners.
