Providing sanctuary forced ICE into the streets
Marble, N.C.: Federal law 8 U.S. Code Section 1324 prohibits interfering with law enforcement officers executing immigration laws. Specifically, it makes it a crime to conceal, harbor or shield an illegal alien from detection. When an undocumented immigrant commits a crime in a sanctuary jurisdiction and the politicians and law enforcement in that city fail to cooperate with ICE, the city is undermining federal immigration enforcement and making Americans less safe.
By refusing to cooperate with ICE detainers and release criminal illegals to federal agents, these jurisdictions force federal agents out of safe, controlled settings like jails and onto our streets, where enforcement actions become dangerous and unpredictable. This lack of cooperation led to the deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis recently and contributed to the homicides of 23 innocent Americans in 2025, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
On the opposite side of agitators whose lives are put at risk from sanctuary jurisdictions are the murders of innocent U.S. citizens by illegal aliens like Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student murdered by a repeat Venezuelan illegal offender released from detention by the NYPD prior to a detainer order being obtained. The case illustrates a broader point often obscured in contemporary debate: non-enforcement is not a neutral condition. It’s a decision. When an individual who is removable is released rather than transferred into federal custody, risk is not eliminated. It is reassigned — from institutions designed to manage it to the public, which never agreed to assume it. Terry Payne
Use this leverage
Manhattan: Immigration enforcement has been politicized plenty of times. Even FDR deported and repatriated up to 2 million Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, mostly American citizens, out of sheer racism during the Depression. Today’s ICE has gone even further. It’s a military force deployed to terrorize Democratic cities with the goal of suppressing the 2026 vote by scaring legally registered voters from the polls. Sen. Chuck Schumer is in an ideal position during negotiation over the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to succeed in every one of the Democrats’ demands to curtail ICE behavior if he plays hardball with the Republicans, even if it means shutting down DHS until they give in. Public opinion is with him, and outrage at ICE depravity is only growing (think of the “five bullets, seven holes” boast of the Border Patrol agent who shot citizen Marimar Martinez in her car in Chicago). Joel Chaffee
Hard bargaining
Ottawa, Ontario: I am delighted that President Trump is giving an opportunity to all like-minded nations to come up with a trade deal. That sends a message to negotiate in good faith, and that’s why India and European nations did recently. I’m not so sure that anybody is noticing it going in the right direction. Opportunity is knocking to host an international conference on tariffs, trade and tourism. Just imagine the economic impact wherever such a conference were held, bringing the best minds to the podium. It will be monumental, with hotel bookings, travel, etc. Anant Nagpur
Condemnable behavior
Bronx: The president posted a video depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife as apes. Everyone is aware of the animosity the current president held for Obama with his so-called “birther” conspiracies. Obama served our country with distinction and dignity, a far cry from the current president. It seems that only a handful of Republicans criticized this racist video that the president refuses to apologize for. Instead, his minions, so afraid of earning his wrath, have remained quiet. Some half-heartedly criticized it after it was taken down. And his biggest fan, far-right activist Laura Loomer, has proclaimed she’s compiling a list of GOP members who attacked the president for this outright racist video. This is a complete disgrace. All of Congress should have condemned this action by one president against another immediately. Nancy Reilly
Aghast and ashamed
Woodbury, N.Y.: I’m a pretty open-minded, apolitical person. I am so embarrassed and humiliated by our president, who is representing our nation to the rest of the world! The depth of his depravity is beyond the pale. His latest video is so disgusting it fails words. Then he wants to rename Penn Station and Dulles International Airport with his name! His arrogance defies belief! Lord help us all. Cindy O’Connor
Trending Trump
Hamilton, N.J.: I believe it’s time for you to officially change the name of “Voice of the People” to “Bash President Trump.” It would definitely be more fitting. Gene Ammirata
A mistake to try
Brooklyn: Lindsey Vonn crashed and injured her yesterday after 13 seconds in attempting to complete a run with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Vonn had many successful Olympic victories. She should have bowed out gracefully and permitted another team member to give it a go. William R. Sarnataro
Stay put
Staten Island: Mayor Mamdani is opening more warming stations a little too late for some. How about also directing the cops to stop removing the homeless from train stations during these cold snaps and for bus drivers to not kick them off at the end of the line in the middle of the night? Removing someone from a slightly warm environment means life or death. Whoever you have on this has no idea what they’re doing. Fire them immediately and fix this. Protect our most vulnerable. Please. I could do better than the people pretending to handle this. Tom McGuire
They have names
Manhattan: Re “Causes of deaths revealed” (Feb. 8): After two weeks, why has the city still not released the names of the victims? This is shameful that the public can not mourn the deaths of these poor souls. The individual found in our neighborhood on 69th St. and First Ave. had a name. RIP Edward Adams. Susan P. Siskind
Chopped for looks
Nutley, N.J.: Penny the Doberman pinscher won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show. Unfortunately, her owners chose to subject a dog they claim to love to cosmetic mutilation by docking her tail and cropping her ears. These barbaric procedures involve lopping off most of the tail, which is part of the spine, and chopping off pieces of the ears to make them stand up. These procedures are illegal in the U.K. and much of Europe, and dogs so mutilated can’t be shown in those countries. We need similar legislation here. If we can get N.Y. to be the first state to outlaw this cruelty so no dog that has been subjected to this barbarity can be shown here, we’d see a big change in a hurry. Breeders and owners claim it doesn’t harm the dog or cause pain. Seriously? Anne Waldron
Fanfare flop
Brooklyn: Last year’s Super Bowl halftime show was horrible. Friday night’s Olympics Opening Ceremony was ridiculous. Who produces these debacles? Vera Badamo
