Rand Paul (R-Ky.) believes Denver’s mayor might face removal from office if efforts are made to obstruct President-elect Trump’s proposed mass deportation policy. During an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Paul noted that resisting federal law, which is backed by a strong precedent of federal supremacy, could escalate to the Supreme Court.
“If the mayor of Denver decides to defy federal mandates, the situation could lead to him being removed from his position,” Paul stated. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) has pledged to support migrants in his city, standing firm even as Trump’s transition team signals aggressive measures against immigration, particularly targeting sanctuary cities.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston stands firm against federal immigration mandates
These jurisdictions typically limit cooperation between local authorities and federal agencies on immigration enforcement. In earlier remarks to Denverite, Johnston suggested utilizing Denver’s police force to block federal deportation efforts.
However, he later tempered his stance in a 9News interview, emphasizing his belief that local residents would step in to oppose such actions. He also expressed his intent to protest the deportations personally, expecting similar resistance from the community.
As Trump moves forward with his immigration agenda, he has appointed Tom Homan as border czar to expedite campaign promises. Despite Homan’s threat to arrest leaders who defy federal orders, Johnston remains undeterred, advocating for negotiations to address complex issues with reasonable discourse.
While Paul doubts Johnston would face criminal charges for noncompliance, he emphasized that the mayor would fail. He characterized Johnston’s defiance as a form of insurrection, drawing parallels to historical rejection of such resistance to federal authority.
“Denver’s mayor is misaligned with history and could face serious legal consequences for ignoring federal law,” Paul remarked. Though Paul supports Trump’s focus on deporting criminals, he strongly opposes the use of military resources for such operations, deeming it an error.
