https://amgreatness.com/2022/12/21/sanctuary-idealism-crashes-into-reality/
The late, great Rush Limbaugh frequently opined on his radio show that progressivism’s appeal stems from the fact that its followers are required to do nothing but “care.” Simply vent empathy or outrage—especially on social media—on behalf of an approved left-wing cause, and your otherwise dreary life can seem meaningful in the belief you are both morally superior to your ideological opponents and also saving the world. It’s a seductive pitch that has been all too successful.
The political benefits of this ideology have not been lost on state and local elected leaders, many of whom are true believers anyway. They enthusiastically virtue signal on behalf of numerous issues, and one of their favorites is sanctuary policies as a purported act of mercy toward illegal aliens. For years this was populism on easy mode, as politicians basked in the approval from their activist base without having to do much hard work.
Thanks to a combination of the Biden Administration’s disastrous border policies and fed-up red state governors, however, the party is over as sanctuary rhetoric is crashing into reality, and the curtain is being pulled back to expose their folly.
Evidence of this phenomenon can be seen even in the words of immigration realpolitik coming from the most unlikely places. In California, a hotbed of irrational sanctuary policies, Governor Gavin Newsom recently toured the southern border of his state and warned of dire consequences should the White House succeed in its effort to end Title 42 border enforcement.
“The fact is, what we’ve got right now is not working and is about to break in a post-42 world unless we take some responsibility and ownership,” Newsom said.
Responsibility? Ownership? These are uncharted waters for Newsom. He has spent most of his governorship pandering to noncitizens with initiatives like universal healthcare and state IDs for illegal aliens. For someone like Newsom to be warning that the end is near is a sign that we may be approaching a point of no return with Biden’s border sabotage.
Big-city mayors, in particular, have benefited from being sanctuary advocates. They’re now admitting the obvious truth that sanctuary policies are unsustainable. Since Governors Greg Abbott of Texas, Ron DeSantis of Florida, and Doug Ducey of Arizona began sending busloads of migrants to New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has been forced to walk a tightrope of defending sanctuary policies while acknowledging his city is struggling to accept the new arrivals.