Trump’s Border Czar Threatens Jail for Denver Mayor
The incoming border czar under President-elect Donald Trump, Tom Homan, has issued a stern warning to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, threatening to have him jailed if he follows through with plans to obstruct federal deportation efforts.
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday night, Homan made it clear that he would not hesitate to take action against the mayor, saying, “Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing. He’s willing to go to jail [and] I’m willing to put him in jail.”
Homan, who has been nominated by Trump to serve as the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), emphasized the legal ramifications for obstructing federal immigration enforcement. “Federal law makes it a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an undocumented migrant from immigration authorities,” Homan explained. “It’s a felony to interfere with the duties of a federal law enforcement officer.”
The tense exchange comes in the wake of Johnston’s outspoken defiance against the administration’s mass deportation plans. On Wednesday, the Denver mayor told Denverite, a local news outlet, that he would use his authority to protect undocumented migrants in Denver from federal deportation efforts. Johnston made it clear he did not believe Colorado Governor Jared Polis would send the National Guard to assist in deportations, and dismissed the possibility of out-of-state forces intervening in Colorado.
“More than us having [the Denver Police Department] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there,” Johnston warned. “You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants, and you do not want to mess with them.”
The mayor’s comments drew an immediate response from Homan, who doubled down on the importance of upholding federal law. Speaking to Hannity, Homan declared, “We gotta secure this country. We gotta save American lives.” He also made it clear that ICE would not be deterred by local resistance, adding, “They’re not gonna stop us.”
Johnston, however, has remained firm in his stance. On Tuesday, he responded to Homan’s threat by stating that Denver officials would not cooperate with what he described as “law-breaking” actions by the federal government. “We will do everything in our power to protect those who live here,” he told The Hill, reiterating his commitment to shielding undocumented residents in the city.
This developing standoff highlights the growing tensions between federal immigration authorities and local governments, as the Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration enforcement faces opposition in progressive cities like Denver. The legal and political battle over immigration enforcement is expected to intensify in the coming months, as Trump’s border czar takes office and begins implementing his controversial deportation policies. Banana Island Sparkles with Glo’s Starlight Night
