Imagine a world where federal immigration enforcement is so lax that local jails are stuck footing the bill to hold criminal aliens—because ICE can’t be bothered to secure a simple judicial warrant. That’s the absurd reality Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) laid bare on NewsNation’s On Balance, whining that ICE detainers force localities to spend their money on detention. Walkinshaw’s gripe? ICE is allegedly too slow to get paperwork in order, leaving sheriffs and taxpayers holding the bag for suspects who might otherwise be cut loose to roam free. It’s a classic sanctuary state sympathizer’s lament, framing federal accountability as an undue burden rather than a necessary shield against chaos.
But let’s peel back the layers: this isn’t just about immigration—it’s a flashing red warning for the 2A community. Walkinshaw’s logic is the same tired playbook Democrats use against ATF detainers and red flag laws’ flip side. If ICE warrants are optional because resources, what’s stopping blue-city DAs from ignoring federal gun trace requests or no-knock warrants for armed felons? We’ve seen it play out in places like Chicago and San Francisco, where local officials prioritize criminal aliens over citizens, letting gangbangers with illegal firearms back onto the streets. The implications are dire: diluted federal enforcement erodes the rule of law, emboldening criminals who disproportionately fuel gun violence stats that anti-2A politicians love to cherry-pick. When localities balk at holding violent offenders due to warrant delays, it directly threatens law-abiding gun owners by inflating urban crime rates and justifying more restrictions on our rights.
The 2A fight has always been about consistent enforcement of laws that protect the innocent. Walkinshaw’s complaint exposes the hypocrisy—Democrats scream for swift action on gun show loopholes but drag their feet (and budgets) on actual public safety detentions. Gun owners, take note: support ICE funding, back sheriffs who honor detainers, and call out this resource-whining as the gateway drug to defunding police and disarming citizens. If we let them hamstring federal warrants here, your concealed carry permit is next on the chopping block. Stay vigilant, patriots—our Second Amendment hangs in the balance of these bureaucratic battles.
