On Trump’s deportation plans: The law says NO.

 

Hi folks, it’s Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner.    I am appalled by Donald Trump’s attempts to illegally commandeer state law enforcement and force them to break the law. The law is clear:  Federal authorities cannot force local law enforcement to enforce federal law.  That means ICE cannot force the Philadelphia DA’s Office to do ICE’s work.     This is an authoritarian president. He’s a criminal. He has been convicted of 34 felonies.   And right now, that criminal is trying to force elected officials, police departments, and branches of state law enforcement to do his deportation policy dirty work.   Here’s the problem: The law says no.    The First Amendment protects houses of faith, but Trump would have ICE raid them.   The Fourteenth Amendment protects birthright citizenship, but Trump falsely claims he illegally erased birthright citizenship and the Fourteenth Amendment with an executive order.   Sorry, Trump—that would require an amendment to the US Constitution that isn’t coming.   The Tenth Amendment protects local law enforcement from being forced to help with ICE's mass deportations — but Trump would illegally erase it.  Sorry, Trump—that would require an amendment to the US Constitution that isn’t coming.   This isn’t even about partisan politics — this is about our constitutions and the law. As District Attorney, it is my job to uphold and defend the rule of law in Philadelphia. And I will not let this illegal power grab happen on my watch.   Today, I’m asking you to stand by donating to support my efforts to defend the rule of law in this city. Your help goes a long way, and I hope I can count on you. DONATE $25 DONATE $50 OTHER AMOUNT Thank you,   Larry Krasner

Lawrence Krasner for District Attorney 239 S Camac St Philadelphia, PA 19107 United States

Clearly illegal This isn't about cutting the size of government. It's about further concentrating power in Trump's hands. Robert Reich Jan 28 Friends, Apologies for interrupting you again, but this is important. As of 5 pm ET today, Trump will halt tens of billions of dollars in federal spending. Although Social Security, Medicare, and other payments to individuals will not be affected, all other domestic spending will stop — grants, loans, spending to research, charities, universities, community projects, climate, infrastructure, foreign aid, and so on. The scale of Trump’s order is wildly broad — it cites federal spending totaling $3 trillion — and argues that federal spending must be aligned with “Presidential priorities” while reviews are undertaken. Officials then have until February 10 to report to the Office of Management and Budget. By then, the OMB will likely be run Russ Vought, Trump’s nominee — and, not incidentally, the chief author of Project 2025 — who has made no secret of his determination to slash government spending (while also delivering a huge tax cut to the wealthy). Last week, Trump barred certain spending he disagreed with, including programs involving “diversity, equity and inclusion” and and nongovernment organizations he believes undermine the national interest. He also ordered a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid spending, which has jeopardized congressionally authorized foreign assistance including military aid to Ukraine and the distribution of medications in Africa and developing nations. Friends, this is illegal. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the power of the purse, and Congress approved these payments. While Trump has the power to pause spending, subject to review, this isn’t really about pausing. It’s about stopping. That’s called “impounding.” In 1974, Congress enacted the Impoundment Control Act, in response to Nixon’s abuses of power. The Act bars a president from not spending money Congress has appropriated. Trump believes the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional — but the Supreme Court determines what acts of Congress are not constitutional. And in the 1975 case of Train vs. City of New York, the Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the Act. So where is this heading? Apparently, Trump wants the current Supreme Court to reverse its 1975 ruling — something that the Court rarely does, especially when the original decision was unanimous. But, as it displayed in Roe v. Wade, the Roberts court has few compunctions about reversing itself. Big picture: This is not a conservative ploy to shrink the size of government. It’s a neo-fascist ploy to concentrate even more power in Trump’s hands.