Staff Reports
A recent ruling from the notoriously liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals might get some heads spinning, but for Americans tired of seeing local governments throw wrenches into federal immigration enforcement, it’s a refreshing splash of sanity. In a unanimous decision, the court upheld the federal government’s right to deport illegal aliens, regardless of local officials’ complaints. With President-elect Donald Trump heading back into office, this ruling aligns perfectly with a robust return to America’s no-nonsense immigration policies.
The case stemmed from an executive order issued in 2019 by King County Executive Dow Constantine, who had the brilliant idea to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using a local airfield near Seattle for deportation flights. Constantine’s argument? He claimed that his local community’s values—specifically, the belief that illegal immigrants shouldn’t be deported—were somehow more important than federal law. One can almost hear the crickets chirping as local officials forget that their jurisdiction ends at the state line.
The Ninth Circuit wasn’t having any of it. The court’s 29-page opinion stated clearly that local governments cannot play gatekeeper when it comes to federal immigration enforcement—a victory for common sense over local virtue signaling. The ruling is all the more significant considering its timing. As Trump prepares to take the reins once again, the echo of a predictable campaign message becomes a clarion call for tough immigration measures.
King County had hoped to maintain the status quo by appealing a lower court’s decision that had already deemed Constantine’s order a violation of the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The Ninth Circuit, however, upheld the earlier ruling, emphasizing that local authorities can’t interfere with essential federal operations, especially those connected to national security and law enforcement. One must wonder what part of “immigration enforcement” local politicians don’t understand.
🚨JUST IN: Appeals Panel Clears The Way For Trump's Mass Deportation Planhttps://t.co/KiSSAG0Qhq
— Jenna Ellis 🐊 (@realJennaEllis) December 3, 2024
For his part, Constantine insisted that his directive was motivated by compassion and progressive values, citing concerns over family separations and unsafe deportations. This lofty rhetoric met a stark reality check from the court, which pointed out that his actions were actually raising operational costs for federal agencies and hampering their ability to carry out crucial deportations. The courts are demonstrating that not only is local defiance illegal, but it also has tangible consequences for law enforcement efficacy.
As the Trump administration gears up to restore order to the immigration system, this ruling serves as a reminder that federal law takes precedence. The King County saga illustrates just how out of touch some local governments have become with the realities of enforced immigration laws. Now, with the Ninth Circuit on the record, Americans can look forward to a legal landscape where federal sovereignty remains intact amidst the chaotic tug of war between progressive values and law and order.
