Sanctuary Cities Challenge National Security as Immigration Enforcement Sparks Violence

The mainstream media and deep state would lead us to believe the American people are more divided than in prior eras such as the Civil War or the 1960s civil rights/anti-Vietnam War period. While extremism and violence from the left have increased, historical moral crises—opposition to slavery, the Vietnam War, and racial inequality—had clear ethical foundations. Today’s urban unrest lacks a comparable moral justification, yet there is intense hostility toward a popularly elected president pursuing his campaign promises and constitutional duties.

President Trump’s agenda includes securing borders, deporting illegal immigrants, revitalizing manufacturing, ending unfair trade practices, achieving energy independence, closing federal agencies, and protecting parental rights in education. However, sanctuary cities—jurisdictions shielding undocumented immigrants from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—resist these efforts. As of mid-2025, 1,003 jurisdictions nationwide adopt sanctuary policies, with 220 major cities enforcing them despite rising violence.

Vehicular attacks on ICE personnel surged in 2025, with over 1,000% more assaults than the previous year, often involving fatal or severe injuries. The Constitution’s Supremacy Clause mandates federal law overrides state and local policies, yet governors like Illinois’ JB Pritzker and Oregon’s Tina Kotek defy enforcement, citing sanctuary protections.

The author attributes America’s decline to secularization, arguing that the removal of religious influence from public life since 1947 has created a spiritual vacuum exploited by “demonic forces.” This, he claims, fuels child trafficking, gang violence, and societal breakdown. A spiritual revival, akin to the Great Awakening of 1730-1750, is framed as essential to restoring national unity and moral clarity.

Scott S. Powell is a senior fellow at Discovery Institute and author of Rediscovering America.