Van Hollen: Mayors, Governors Need to Consent Before ICE, CBP Enter ‘In These Big Numbers’

January 28, 2026
6:27 am

▶

Listen to Article

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) just dropped a bombshell on CNN's News Central, arguing that ICE and CBP shouldn't be storming into cities in these big numbers without getting a green light from local mayors and governors first. In the context of the DHS funding bill, Van Hollen's pushing for reforms that would handcuff federal immigration enforcement, insisting we need to make sure local politicos consent before agents can operate at scale. It's classic sanctuary state theater, dressed up as reasonable oversight, but let's call it what it is: a deliberate blueprint to neuter federal law enforcement in blue strongholds. This isn't just about immigration—it's a masterclass in federalism gone rogue, with direct ripple effects for the Second Amendment community. Van Hollen's logic? If mayors and governors can veto ICE raids on undocumented criminals, why stop there? Picture anti-2A strongholds like New York or California demanding consent before ATF agents enforce federal gun laws or trace crime scene firearms. We've already seen this playbook in action: sanctuary cities shielding illegal aliens from deportation, which often means shielding felons who shouldn't have guns in the first place. Data from the DOJ shows that illegal immigrants commit firearm-related crimes at disproportionate rates in these havens—think MS-13 gangbangers packing heat because local LEOs are ordered to look the other way. Van Hollen's proposal supercharges that chaos, creating no-go zones where federal authority evaporates, leaving law-abiding gun owners exposed to unchecked criminality. The implications for 2A patriots are stark: this is a Trojan horse for broader resistance to federal overreach, but flipped against us. Pro-2A states like Texas or Florida thrive because governors back federal partners against cartels flooding AR-15s across the border—over 70% of traced crime guns in ATF reports link back to Mexican trafficking. If Dems like Van Hollen get their way, expect a patchwork America where blue mayors block ATF from busting FFL violators or NFA scofflaws, all under the guise of local consent. It's time for the gun rights community to rally: contact your reps, amplify this clip, and remind everyone that weakening ICE today means emboldening armed invaders tomorrow. Stand firm—our rights depend on unified enforcement, not permission slips from progressive overlords.

Best FFL Software Ranked and Compared!

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) just dropped a bombshell on CNN’s News Central, arguing that ICE and CBP shouldn’t be storming into cities in these big numbers without getting a green light from local mayors and governors first. In the context of the DHS funding bill, Van Hollen’s pushing for reforms that would handcuff federal immigration enforcement, insisting we need to make sure local politicos consent before agents can operate at scale. It’s classic sanctuary state theater, dressed up as reasonable oversight, but let’s call it what it is: a deliberate blueprint to neuter federal law enforcement in blue strongholds.

This isn’t just about immigration—it’s a masterclass in federalism gone rogue, with direct ripple effects for the Second Amendment community. Van Hollen’s logic? If mayors and governors can veto ICE raids on undocumented criminals, why stop there? Picture anti-2A strongholds like New York or California demanding consent before ATF agents enforce federal gun laws or trace crime scene firearms. We’ve already seen this playbook in action: sanctuary cities shielding illegal aliens from deportation, which often means shielding felons who shouldn’t have guns in the first place. Data from the DOJ shows that illegal immigrants commit firearm-related crimes at disproportionate rates in these havens—think MS-13 gangbangers packing heat because local LEOs are ordered to look the other way. Van Hollen’s proposal supercharges that chaos, creating no-go zones where federal authority evaporates, leaving law-abiding gun owners exposed to unchecked criminality.

The implications for 2A patriots are stark: this is a Trojan horse for broader resistance to federal overreach, but flipped against us. Pro-2A states like Texas or Florida thrive because governors back federal partners against cartels flooding AR-15s across the border—over 70% of traced crime guns in ATF reports link back to Mexican trafficking. If Dems like Van Hollen get their way, expect a patchwork America where blue mayors block ATF from busting FFL violators or NFA scofflaws, all under the guise of local consent. It’s time for the gun rights community to rally: contact your reps, amplify this clip, and remind everyone that weakening ICE today means emboldening armed invaders tomorrow. Stand firm—our rights depend on unified enforcement, not permission slips from progressive overlords.

Share this story