Go home, you’re not welcome here

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Mass illegal immigration has flooded America’s liberal cities, and Los Angeles is ground zero. Recent ICE raids in areas like Paramount and the Fashion District led to dozens of arrests, including individuals with violent criminal histories, sparking explosive clashes. Protesters hurled cinderblocks, launched firebombs, blocked highways, and attacked officers, while ICE agents responded with tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang grenades to reclaim control.

But it wasn’t just from the streets that the chaos was fueled: left-wing leaders lent moral cover. Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the unrest as no more severe than a sports celebration, asking, “Have these geniuses ever seen what happens when the Eagles win a playoff game?”—even as footage showed cars ablaze and agents under siege. He insisted local agencies could handle it, despite clear evidence to the contrary. Gavin gaslit his constituents by pretending the city isn’t on fire while smoke clouds the skyline.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass followed suit, insisting protesters “have the right to peacefully protest,” even as ICE was under direct assault.  Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went further, calling ICE a “rogue agency that should not exist,” blaming it for escalating tensions, while federal agents were facing firebombs and cinderblock attacks. These were not protests. These were violent uprisings, and the left not only excused them, they cheered them.

When public officials minimize violence, mock federal law enforcement, and defend those attacking them, it reveals their true priority: politics, not peace; ideology, not security. The safety of American citizens and the rule of law are collateral damage in their campaign.

Thankfully, our federal officials have made it clear: assaults on ICE officers won’t be tolerated. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that anyone who attacks law enforcement will be prosecuted, regardless of immigration status. DHS Secretary Noem warned that “if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

These riots aren’t peaceful dissent, they’re open warfare on American sovereignty. They’re a violent rejection of the very system that governs order. To respond to illegal entry with riots—and then expect mercy—is an insult to law-abiding citizens.

So, no, illegal border-jumpers don’t deserve due process. They chose to ignore established pathways and legal requirements. They crossed the line, and that line is the law. Expedited removal is only appropriate. Immediate deportation is the reasonable option. But rioting and assaulting federal officers is insanity.

So here’s the message: Go home. You’re not welcome here. The government’s first duty is to its citizens, not to people who trample our laws, clash with federal agents, and threaten the stability of our cities.

If you broke the law to get here, and then rioted when those laws caught up with you, sending you back is more than fair, it’s merciful. You’re lucky that you got to take advantage of the system for as long as you did. Being deported should not be looked at as a punishment, but rather the kinder option. You don’t get to torch cars and hurl things at federal officers before begging for due process. Actions have consequences. And deportation should be swift, or there’s only one outcome: more violence.

America’s failure isn’t simply in closing borders, it’s in tolerating disorder. We have a duty, and a right, to secure our communities. Every citizen deserves safety from chaos. When federal agents enforcing the law are attacked by mobs in cities that refuse to cooperate, we risk citizens’ lives.

So if you’re here illegally, waving another country’s flag while yelling, “F the USA!” enjoy the trip home, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.