The high cost of Democrat virtue-signaling on criminal illegal aliens
Nearly two hundred illegal aliens have been arrested in DC. Read some of their criminal histories; it’s astounding that Democrat authorities previously refused to cooperate with ICE about these people, but it seems to have been standard operating procedure.
For example:
ICE added that many of the apprehensions were made “after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainers and released the alien offenders back into their communities.”
They included “a 47-year-old illegally present Guatemalan alien whose criminal history includes drug possession, illegal reentry, aggravated assault, trespassing, disorderly conduct and sexual assault” and “a 25-year-old illegally present Guatemalan alien whose criminal history includes threat to kidnap, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, threats to bodily harm and simple assault,” according to ICE.
What virtue are the Democrat authorities signaling by failing to allow ICE to deport such criminal illegal aliens, a separate category from mere illegal aliens who have violated the law by entering illegally? Is the virtue that of compassion? Is the virtue “do the opposite of whatever Republicans want, whatever it might be”? Is it Cloward-Piven chaos? Is it transgressive Sympathy For the Devil?
Just a few days ago I was speaking to a woman I know who insisted that even naturalized citizens who are not criminals or gang members are being rounded up. Although I had no desire to argue with this particular person, I had to say – as gently as I could – that that’s not what’s happening. She vociferously insisted it was indeed what is happening. Because it wasn’t an appropriate time or place to have a longer talk and point her to evidence to prove what I was saying, I didn’t pursue the issue. But it was an edifying experience for me to see how firmly convinced she was of her beliefs. This particular person is a big Rachel Maddow fan, and so I have to assume she has heard over and over that Trump rounds up anyone he wants with no attention to who it is or what the person may have done or why, but just through Trump’s and ICE’s pure evil and malevolence.
NOTE: In the same operation, ICE also served notices of inspection to 187 businesses, checking to see that their employees were legally allowed to work there.
Neo, you are too kind. I would egg your friend on with whispers that Trumps ICE is rounding up anybody not blue eyed and blond haired- and that your friend is next!
Your friend NEEDS to believe that and similar nonsense. Nothing to do with politics or justice or anything else. Just has to believe in order to be the Right Sort of Person.
By the way, the person I mentioned in this post is someone I know but I wouldn’t describe her as a friend.
Your friend is mentally ill. In the the face of facts they have to believe their version of reality to maintain their concept of how virtuous they think they are.
I can’t understand why Dems are making this their cause. This seems to be mental illness. The large majority of Americans support removing criminal aliens.
I’m glad you didn’t engage her. Right after my surgery I stopped trying to convince these people; I don’t have the energy to do it. Also the TDS virus has taken over their entire psyche so nothing ever gets into their heads.
I seem to recall a Star Trek episode where the population of a planet had been infected with a virus that was controlling them. OS, NG, DS9. Voyager, not sure which show and when it showed up.
Re: Mental Illness
I do wish this term were retired from political discourse.
Humans are imperfect, emotional, tribal beings. What we are seeing with Democrats is regrettable, though not unusual in history.
Mental illness is a different kettle of fish.
You’re right, huxley, sorry. It’s highly irrational behavior unmoored in any facts.
Richard F Cook
Your friend is mentally ill. In the the face of facts they have to believe their version of reality to maintain their concept of how virtuous they think they are.
She lacks the knowledge and thinking ability to evaluate what Rachel Maddow says. Instead, she uncritically accepts whatever Rachel Maddow says. Such as the libel lawsuit involving Rachel Maddow. Or she has the thinking ability to evaluate what Rachel Maddow says, but refuses to do so.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/21/nx-s1-5305268/nbc-settles-lawsuit-ice-doctor-msnbc-maddow-georgia-detainee
Your acquaintance did not reason her way into her positions, and thus, having no factual support for them, cannot be reasoned out of them. She is floating above an intellectual abyss, and must cling ever so tightly to her positions, however illogical they might be, because it’s a long way to fall.
I have had *many* people tell me stories such as their friend having to to cancel a trip to a wedding abroad because as a naturalized citizen, they were afraid they wouldn’t be readmitted. Or they are afraid to go abroad because they once went to a pipeline protest, although a native born citizen. Obviously the trope is being heavily circulated in blue circles. I was also told that no tourists from Europe are coming here because of the horrible things which might happen to them from ICE here.
As for the good citizens of DC, my former home, here’s an email message on the local listserv of the affluent neighborhood where I once lived:
“Council member Frumin points out the threats from ICE which is a step in the right direction. Please encourage him to go further. ANC [Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner] Courtney Carlson took action and used her voice. Bo Blair stood up for his employees at Millie’s [local restaurant]. The mayor and council could be doing the same and more. The silence and acquiescence of our city leaders has yet to deliver us special treatment. They should join and support those who push back.”
Some of the substacks I read are developing interesting theories of “anti-Fascism” as the driving ideology of these people, and their heroism in their own minds as standing up and preventing it.
Here’s Ed West’s take, mostly about Germany, but applicable widely:
https://tinyurl.com/mpntrf2e
“Nearly two hundred illegal aliens have been arrested in DC. Read some of their criminal histories; it’s astounding that Democrat authorities previously refused to cooperate with ICE about these people”
It can be argued that a refusal to cooperate with ICE is an active obstruction of justice. Charge them and let them have their day(s) in court. Democrats established the ‘playing field’ make ‘the resistance’ play on that field.
“18 USC Ch. 73: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
18 U.S.C. § 1510: This section addresses obstructing criminal investigations, including preventing witnesses from reporting crimes or complying with law enforcement requests.”
It’s been interesting to see that the new Leftist position is that people who have lived in Africa for 400 years are Europeans who need to “go back to Europe” (Germany or wherever lol), but that Africans or South Americans who arrived in the US or Europe last Thursday need to stay there forever.
I don’t think they have thought the implications all the way through. But they never do, they never apply logic consistently. The desired outcome is always known in advance and whatever argument is at hand is used to advance it, and dropped when inconvenient. We have always been at war with Eastasia.
A few questions: What is the difference between “mental illness” and “incapable of thinking rationally”? What, precisely, is the definition of “thinking rationally”? And, is “incapable of thinking rationally” suffered uniformly and consistently, or is it situationally dependent?
By that I mean, is a person living independently in a capitalist society who fully embraces and aligns with Rachel Maddow and Bernie Sanders but can easily discern and choose between between grapes at Fred’s for $2.00/lb versus identical grapes at Jane’s for $1.75/lb is, by one measure, demonstrating irrationality in the former but rationality in the latter; does that mean he or she is “partially mentally ill” or subject to “situational irrationality”? And, if it’s “situational irrationality” exactly what does that mean, and how does it relate to “mental illness”?
Don’t think mentally ill actually covers this, it’s more to me brainwashing.
”It’s been interesting to see that the new Leftist position is that people who have lived in Africa for 400 years are Europeans who need to ‘go back to Europe’ (Germany or wherever lol), but that Africans or South Americans who arrived in the US or Europe last Thursday need to stay there forever.”
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, because it needs repeating: The issue is not the issue! The issue is the Revolution.
The issue is not South Africans in South Africa or Guatemalans in America. The issue is the Revolution and how to further it.