Democrat Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) let slip a revealing truth on CNN This Morning this week, admitting that a potential DHS shutdown wouldn’t touch ICE’s deep pockets—flush with billions—while hamstringing FEMA’s disaster response. Responding to questions about the funding disparity, Olszewski lamented, We can’t pretend ICE is normal after the senseless killing of American citizens, tying it to border chaos. It’s a rare moment of candor from the left: ICE, the deportation machine Democrats love to demonize, is so overfunded it could weather a shutdown, while FEMA scrambles. This isn’t just budget trivia; it’s a window into Washington’s real priorities, where immigration enforcement gets blank checks amid record migrant surges, even as hurricane victims wait for aid.
For the 2A community, this hits close to home because DHS isn’t just about borders—it’s the umbrella for ATF, the rogue agency waging war on gun owners through unconstitutional rules like pistol brace bans and forced registries. ICE’s insulated funding reveals a pattern: federal enforcers targeting threats (read: law-abiding Americans exercising rights) get priority bucks, while everyday relief suffers. Imagine if that cash flood went to FEMA instead—faster storm recovery means less federal overreach into states’ rights, including self-defense during crises. Olszewski’s gripe underscores the hypocrisy: Democrats cry defund ICE when it suits their open-borders agenda, but never touch ATF’s budget, which ballooned under Biden to push gun grabs. It’s clever politics—portray ICE as the villain to distract from the real federal boot on 2A necks.
The implications are stark for gun rights advocates: as shutdown fights loom, demand transparency on DHS slush funds. If ICE is not normal, neither is ATF’s unchecked power. 2A supporters should rally Congress to slash ATF bloat and redirect to real priorities like border security that actually protects communities—reducing crime waves that fuel anti-gun hysteria. Olszewski handed us a gift; let’s use it to expose the game and fortify the Second Amendment against bureaucratic excess. Stay vigilant, patriots—your rights depend on it.
