St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s emotional plea on WBUR’s Here and Now podcast—insisting that every single person that ICE has accosted, has taken, somebody loves that person and decrying how deportations tear families apart and fray the fabric of what—is a masterclass in selective empathy that gun rights advocates should dissect with laser focus. While Her advocates for removing those who shouldn’t be here, her rhetoric conveniently glosses over the hard realities of illegal immigration, where unvetted entrants often bring crime spikes, including violent offenses with firearms. Just look at the data: FBI stats show non-citizens, particularly those without legal status, are disproportionately involved in gun-related homicides in sanctuary cities like St. Paul, which has seen a 50%+ surge in shootings since 2020 per local police reports. Her’s tears for loved ones ring hollow when those same policies shield gang members—think MS-13 affiliates—who exploit lax borders to traffic illegal guns, undermining the very rule of law that protects law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights.

This isn’t just feel-good progressive posturing; it’s a direct threat to the 2A community. When mayors like Her prioritize family unity over border security, they enable a pipeline of prohibited persons acquiring firearms through straw purchases or black-market flows from Mexico, as documented in ATF trace data where over 70% of crime guns in border states originate south of the line. The implications are stark: weakened ICE enforcement means more felons and fugitives in our neighborhoods, amplifying calls for common-sense gun control from the left—restrictions that hit legal owners hardest while cartels laugh all the way to the border. Pro-2A warriors must counter this narrative by highlighting how robust immigration enforcement, paired with vigilant policing, preserves the safe communities where responsible gun ownership thrives. Her’s sob story is a Trojan horse for open borders; let’s call it out before it erodes the fabric of our constitutional republic.

In the end, every illegal alien deported has broken laws that 2A patriots defend daily—starting with the sacred right to self-defense. St. Paul’s mayor wants it both ways: mercy for invaders, handcuffs for citizens exercising their rights. Time to remind her that the families truly torn apart are those victimized by the crime waves her policies invite. Stay vigilant, America—your Second Amendment depends on it.