Guy Ciarrocchi: Minneapolis or Nashville —which path will Philly choose?

Organized chaos in Minneapolis. It’s been in the spotlight — understandably. ICE raids. Protests. Confrontation. Deaths. 

Over 3,000 arrests and counting of known illegal immigrant murderers, rapists, kidnappers and child traffickers. The last part may be news to many because so much noise — mostly contrived — has been made about ICE that much of legacy news has “overlooked” what ICE has thankfully accomplished. 

We should never forget that if the protestors had their way — and those who fund and orchestrate their efforts — every single one of those 3,000-plus thugs would still be walking the streets. Where we live, work and our children play. 

The White House Border Czar, Tom Homan, is now on the ground, imploring local and state officials to cooperate  —  for everyone’s sake. Recall that he served in a similar role for President Obama — who gave him a medal for his border security work in his administration. (Obama-Homan deported over 3.1 million illegal immigrants. Trump 1 had just over 900,000.)

Homan is attempting to get Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to reverse their combative public stands and directives, in which they ordered state and local law enforcement not to cooperate with ICE and CBP. No sharing of information. No support tracking down illegal immigrant criminals already in jails. No police escorts or perimeters when ICE conducts a raid. This invites situations such as where Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti were killed — protestors being in such close contact with armed ICE agents while they were actively on the job. (We don’t allow “legalize drugs” activists to confront DEA agents on the job, do we?!) 

How did we get here?

After it was uncovered that as much as $10 billion in taxpayer money was wasted at best — stolen at worst — in Minnesota through an organized crime scheme that defrauded day care and autism support programs and was enabled by Democratic politicians, the Trump administration increased federal law enforcement presence in Minneapolis to uncover and remove those running and partnering in the scheme, focusing on illegal immigrants and not citizens.

This all comes on the heels of the Biden/Harris administration allowing — inviting — over 10 million (or more) illegal immigrants into America. Many we know little to nothing about. Far too many are known to have criminal records in their home countries. And far too many have committed crimes while in the United States. And, even the Biden administration was forced to acknowledge that they had allowed known terrorists into our nation. 

Several local Democratic politicians — craving the limelight and preferring virtue-signaling to governing — have jumped into the fray. 

Philadelphia’s Sheriff screamed into the national limelight, challenging Tim Walz for the title of most insane politician in America. This lightweight politician — known only for knowing nothing about law enforcement — held a press conference to announce that ICE wasn’t welcome, she wouldn’t cooperate. And if they chose to come to Philly, she’d “bring the smoke.”

Not to be outdone, the chief law enforcement (violator) officer, DA Krasner held a press conference to call ICE agents “wannabe Nazis,” whom he would “hunt down” just like was done after WWII.

Governor Shapiro even paused his thinly veiled campaign for President — sort of — to once again virtue-signal by “tweeting” that ICE was not welcome in Pennsylvania. 

(Shapiro often shadow-boxes with President Trump. Earlier this year, he announced that there would be no National Guard presence in Philadelphia to fight crime. He sees a national battle of the Left vs. Trump and feels compelled to jump-in and seek attention, even when the White House isn’t considering Philadelphia.)

Not to be outdone, City Council will now consider “anti-ICE” bills introduced by its two most radical socialist members — from the “Working Families Party.” If they get their way, ICE would be banned from city buildings and property, denied access to city crime data, and city officials prohibited from cooperating with ICE.

As with Minneapolis, this would mean no police perimeters to separate protestors from ICE, CBP and FBI agents; no data informing ICE that known illegal immigrant criminals are in city jails; and keeping ICE out of City jails.

So…known illegal immigrant murders, kidnappers, rapists and child traffickers would be allowed to walk our streets.  All in the name of some upside-down, backwards idea of “justice.”

Compare this with Nashville, Tennessee. No national news stories about that Democrat-run city. No protests. No confrontations. No inquiries to ICE agents. And, thankfully, no deaths to civilians or agents.

Why? Because the mayor and his team respect the rule of law, public safety — and, accept the results of the 2024 election. Just as local law enforcement works with the FBI, DEA, the Coast Guard, state police and National Guard, Tennessee law enforcement is cooperating with ICE and CBP. This protects everyone’s rights, minimizes confrontation, and focuses on everyone’s safety.

Mayor Parker has shown herself to be an astute politician — being true to her liberal values, while also focusing on practical problems. She has shown no interest in virtue-signaling, picking partisan fights, or taking cheap shots at Trump. And she’s worked collaboratively with Senator Dave McCormick.

As the focus on ICE intensifies, Parker, Shapiro and other politicians will have to chart their course. Nashville or Minneapolis? Virtue-signaling and grandstanding or common-sense governing?

Chaos or public safety? 

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania.A Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation, follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.