Civics class taught us that elected members of Congress enact our laws. The president — through his appointees and their employees — then executes these policy choices.
Law enforcement officers (as the name suggests) enforce these laws. Their job is to do so, whether or not they support the law. Passing laws is subject to debate, but enforcing laws isn’t optional. As a prosecutor myself, I took an oath to do this. (RELATED: Are They Illegal? Because If They’re Illegal, That’s Why They’re Getting Arrested)
Polling indicates a loud minority of Americans oppose enforcement of the immigration laws that make it a crime to enter the United States illegally. These dissenters have two basic options. The first is to convince a majority of Congress (a supermajority if they expect a presidential veto) to change that law and allow anyone in the world to enter and enjoy our myriad free or low-cost welfare, education, housing, and health benefits.
But it takes a lot of work to convince enough voters to encourage their lawmakers to make such a change. That’s why many of those who want more lax immigration laws take the second option — an easier, but less principled approach.
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