Democrat Senator Challenges Trump's Immigration Crackdown
A prominent Democratic senator has publicly urged federal immigration agents to resist President Donald Trump's deportation orders, arguing they violate constitutional rights. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona made the bold statement during an interview with Deseret News as the Trump administration prepares for significant new enforcement actions.
'You can't be told to violate people's constitutional rights. People have to stand up and say, no, I'm not going to do that,' Kelly declared, addressing federal immigration agents directly.
The senator specifically called for agents to identify themselves clearly and push back against administration officials. 'I'd like to see them wearing an ID, not wearing masks and telling Stephen Miller, or Kristi Noem that we will follow the law and there are limits to what we will do. And we're not violating people's constitutional rights,' he added.
Growing Resistance to Deportation Agenda
Kelly emphasised that his position stems from documented cases where US citizens were mistakenly detained and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Arizona Democrat reinforced that federal officers have legal grounds to refuse questionable orders. 'By the way, you don't have to follow unlawful orders,' he stated unequivocally.
This resistance comes as the Trump administration reportedly prepares to expand its deportation efforts. According to Politico, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden was informed that US Customs and Border Patrol agents will arrive in the Charlotte area either Sunday or early next week.
Sheriff McFadden struck a diplomatic tone, stating, 'We value and welcome the renewed collaboration and open communication with our federal partners. It allows us to stay informed and be proactive in keeping Mecklenburg County safe and to maintain the level of trust our community deserves.' However, his office has clarified it won't support deportation operations conducted by CBP or ICE.
National Implications and Statistics
President Trump has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his second term, already deploying soldiers and immigration officials to multiple Democratic strongholds including Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Charlotte now joins this list of targeted cities.
The location choice carries additional significance following the tragic murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutskahas earlier this year. The accused, Decarlos Brown Jr., had an extensive criminal record with over a dozen previous arrests before the fatal incident. President Trump has cited this case as evidence that Democrat-run cities like Charlotte are too lenient on crime.
The scale of planned enforcement is substantial. The Department of Homeland Security estimates approximately 600,000 deportations will occur by the end of Trump's first year back in office, based on current operational rates.
Neither DHS nor the White House responded to requests for comment regarding these developments. As enforcement operations expand, the conflict between federal immigration policy and local resistance appears set to intensify across multiple American cities.
