Democratic Denver Mayor Mike Johnston recently stated he is prepared to face arrest in defiance the Trump administration’s immigration policies. His remarks, which center on his opposition to the administration’s plans for mass deportation, have elicited a response from Trump’s former immigration czar, Tom Homan, who has warned the mayor that his actions could have legal consequences.
Johnston’s declaration stems from his deeply held belief that the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement—specifically, its emphasis on deporting those in the country unlawfully—represents an overreach. In a recent interview, the mayor was asked whether he was prepared to go to jail to protest the administration’s policies. His response was unequivocal: “Yeah, I’m not afraid of that, and I’m also not seeking that,” he said. “I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people [on] how to solve hard problems.”
Johnston’s willingness to resist federal immigration law and face arrest has sparked a sharp rebuke from Tom Homan, who served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Trump. Appearing on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Homan asserted that Johnston’s stance violated federal law and cited the Supreme Court case Arizona v. U.S. as evidence of the legality of the administration’s policies. “You are absolutely breaking the law,” Homan told Hannity, directly addressing the mayor. “All he has to do is look at Arizona v. U.S., and he would see he’s breaking the law. But, look, me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing. He’s willing to go to jail, I’m willing to put him in jail.”
This standoff between Johnston and Homan highlights a fundamental divide over the enforcement of immigration law and the role of local governments in federal immigration policies.
Perhaps the most provocative aspect of Johnston’s comments came when he warned of a “Tiananmen Square moment” if the Trump administration presses forward with its mass deportations. The mayor drew a comparison between the government’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants and the violent 1989 military suppression of pro-democracy protesters in Beijing.
Both Trump and Homan insist that securing the nation’s borders and deporting individuals who are in the country illegally is essential to protecting American communities. He argues that individuals who enter the country unlawfully, regardless of their background, should face the consequences of their actions.
Johnston’s challenge to the Trump administration’s immigration policies also highlights the growing tensions between local and federal authorities. As sanctuary cities and states like Colorado adopt policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, the question of whether local leaders have the authority to resist federal immigration policies remains a point of legal contention.
Good for Tom Homan! Pretty sure the Mayor will fold when he’s arrested.