DV Journal

(This article first appeared in Broad + Liberty.)

To protest the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and operations ordered by President Trump, some businesses in Philadelphia and across the country protested against the president’s deportation of illegal immigrant criminals with a “Day Without Immigrants” on February 3rd.

The anti-Trumpers urged illegal immigrants to forgo reporting to work, attending classes, and spending money, which they claim will point out dramatically just how vital illegal immigrants are to the American economy.

The protest did not cause a ripple in the economy. And one should note that the illegal immigrants that ICE is deporting are hardly working honest jobs or attending classes. They are mostly hardened criminals who are preying on American citizens, just as they preyed on innocent victims in the counties they fled.

Who are the illegals getting the boot from the United States?

On January 25th, ICE in Philadelphia removed Raymundo Rojas Bacilio, a Mexican citizen. Rojas is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in Mexico for rape.

“The removal of the criminal alien Raymundo Rojas Bacilio, a sexual predator, underscores the critical importance of our enforcement actions. His repeated illegal entries into the United States and his heinous criminal acts posed a significant threat to the safety and security of our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “This removal demonstrates that we will relentlessly pursue and remove those who endanger the American public.”

According to ICE, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Rojas near Nogales, Arizona on January 6, 2012, for entering the United States without admission or parole by an immigration official. The Border Patrol served him with a notice and order of expedited removal, charging inadmissibility, and removed him from the to Mexico.

Border Patrol agents arrested Rojas near Nogales, Arizona, on Jan. 12, 2012, for entering the U.S. without admission by an immigration official. Once again, the Border Patrol served him with a notice and order of expedited removal charging inadmissibility and removed Rojas to Mexico on Jan. 15, 2012.

Mexican authorities in Mexico issued an arrest warrant for Rojas for rape on May 31, 2013. Rojas again entered the U.S. without admission or parole by an immigration official on an unknown date and at an unknown location.

The Kings County Supreme Court in Brooklyn, New York, convicted Rojas for forcible touching of the intimate parts of another person on Nov. 11, 2024. The court sentenced him to incarceration for 60 days, probation for six years, and required him to register as a sex offender.

ICE arrested Rojas in Corona, New York during a targeted enforcement action on Dec. 17, 2024, and served him a notice of intent to reinstate the prior order of removal. He remained in ICE custody pending removal.

On January 31, ICE removed Francisco Javier Melendez Torres, an El Salvador citizen. Melendez is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in El Salvador for aggravated rape of a minor and sexual harassment.

“The removal of Francisco Javier Melendez Torres, a dangerous criminal alien wanted for aggravated rape of a minor in El Salvador, highlights the dangers individuals like him pose to our communities,” said Brian McShane. “ICE is committed to ensuring that dangerous individuals like Melendez Torres do not find safe harbor in the United States and do not further threaten the American public.”

On February 4th, ICE removed Serafin Leon Rojas, a Mexican citizen. He is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in Mexico for domestic violence.

“The removal of Serafin Leon Rojas demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that criminal aliens face justice,” said Brian McShane. “By collaborating with our international law enforcement partners and enforcing immigration laws, we protect our communities and support our national security objectives.”

According to ICE, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Leon near Laredo, Texas, for entering the United States without inspection or parole by an immigration official and served him with a notice and order of expedited removal, charging inadmissibility. He was removed to Mexico on July 23, 2016. Leon again entered the U.S. without admission or parole by an immigration official on an unknown date and at an unknown location.

The Philadelphia Police Department in Pennsylvania arrested Leon on August 7, 2024, for driving under the influence, and this charge remains pending. ICE arrested Leon in Philadelphia on December 12, 2024, during a routine enforcement action and served him with a notice of intent to reinstate the prior order from July 21, 2016, charging removability. Leon remained in ICE custody throughout removal proceedings.

On February 10, in Lynn, Massachusetts, ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Eric Dionida German-Pena, 25, a native and citizen of the Dominican Republic, following his apprehension in Lynn for his alleged role in the murder of a Massachusetts sandwich shop owner during an apparent home-invasion robbery.

“Eric Dionida German-Pena will have his day in court, but he stands accused of a very serious and disturbing crime against a member of our Massachusetts community. ICE Boston takes its public safety mission extremely seriously — which is why we’ve lodged an immigration detainer against him with Lynn police,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has charged him with murder, and with the cooperation of the Lynn District Court, we intend to take him into ICE custody after he has paid his debt to society. ICE Boston will continue our mission of arresting and removing egregious alien offenders from New England.”

The Lynn Police Department police arrested German February 5 and charged him with the murder. ICE discovered that German illegally entered the United States in September 2022.

These are only some of the illegal immigrant criminals that the Trump administration is sending back to their countries to face justice. If the deported criminals escape justice in their home countries, they will find it much more difficult to reenter the U.S. now that the president has increased border security.

Last week, CNN pundit Scott Jennings made a great point about why President Donald Trump seems to be overwhelming Democrats in so many ways. Jennings stated that Trump’s superpower is doing things that 80 percent of Americans support versus stuff that 20 percent support. Jennings added that Trump Derangement Syndrome forces Democrats to flail against Trump’s actions even if their flailing damages them.

Last week, Trump masterfully stepped in and blocked biological men from participating in women’s sports through an executive order. The picture of Trump at the White House surrounded by hundreds of young female athletes was iconic. Trump’s order was not only supported by 80 percent of the American people, but it also got the attention of those who may not follow politics closely but will vote against the political party that promotes men competing against women in female sports.

This week, Trump has signaled that he will sign an executive order rescinding the federal ban on plastic straws. This attack on plastic straws was triggered in 2011 by then 9-year Milo Cress, who called straw companies to determine how many plastic straws Americans use each day. He estimated from the conversations that Americans used 500 million straws a day. Then, it was extrapolated that that number would fill up 46,400 large school buses a year. These numbers are largely disputed, but what is overwhelmingly undisputable is that Americans want to use plastic rather than paper straws. Trump is just going to fulfill that desire.

How will Democrats react to this? They will say it’s a silly waste of time. They will say Trump has done nothing about the cost of straws, eggs, and everything else in grocery stores. They will say this is a reckless environmental move. They will flail and fail.

A new CBS poll conducted during Trump’s first 15 days in office shows 53 percent of Americans approved of what Trump has done so far. Just as importantly, 70 percent said he’s doing what he promised. The poll also indicated 63 percent of Americans view Trump as “energetic” and 69 percent viewed him as “tough.”

The next big issue for Trump will be an audit of the military budget. Trump’s audit of USAID and the Department of Education through Elon Musk’s DOGE has been pretty much popular. Even though Americans, especially Trump supporters, strongly support the military, they want the fraud and waste in that budget to be exposed. Remember the $640 toilet seat, $7,622 coffee maker, and $37 screws?

The battle that will probably be the most intense and imminent across the Delaware Valley will be the Trump administration’s enforcement of his executive orders around transgender issues. I predict that school districts like Central Bucks will resist, and we will see massive legal battles and possible withdrawal of federal funding. Resistance may appeal to some blocs of voters in school districts across our area, but in the end, they will lose. This is not an issue that people will change their minds about.

The policy that Trump has to be careful about is deporting illegal immigrants. Deportation of criminals here illegally is wildly popular. Polling indicates the deportation of those with a deportation order is popular. But deporting those who are unlawfully but have not committed crimes is a trickier issue.

Trump brands his executive orders as simply acknowledging common sense. Just in the past few days, prominent Democratic Delaware Sen. Chris Coons defended at length on CNN America’s “soft power” through USAID, such as spending $20 million on producing “Sesame Street” in Iraq. Chris Hayes, progressive MBNBC host on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” said Democrats could win by saying parents should have the right to get surgeries and puberty blockers for their very young children.

These guys must have been asleep during the last election.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer portrays himself as a law-and-order Democrat. But there are some laws — America’s laws against illegal immigration, for example — he refuses to enforce.

“I am directing that CID (Criminal Investigation Division) staff are not to work with immigration officials to target for enforcement actions individuals not legally in our country but also not committing criminal acts,” Stollsteimer posted in a message on Facebook. “Simply put, we will not participate in ’round ups’ of people living peacefully in Delaware County.”

The two-term D.A. insists his office will help Immigration and Customs Enforcement with cases involving people who are breaking U.S. immigration law, as long as they are charged with an additional crime as well.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with our federal partners to investigate and hold criminals accountable, and if those criminals are not legally in this country, we will without hesitation cooperate with immigration officials who seek their legal removal from the United States,” Stollsteimer wrote.

Stollsteimer implied that enforcing immigration law was somehow suspect and that immigration status is related to people’s race or religion.

“As prosecutors and investigators, we advocate for all victims of crime in Delaware County, irrespective of what those victims look like, who they love, who they pray to, or their legal status in our country,” Stollsteimer wrote. “My policy…without exception, is that we are not to inquire about a victim or witness’ legal status in the United States, nor will we report to immigration officials a victim or witness who we learn is not a legal resident.”

Stollsteimer’s position is viewed as problematic by many legal experts. It also runs counter to national polling showing widespread support for more enforcement of immigration laws.

“Stollsteimer’s announcement is self-serving. He is setting up ICE as a straw man, the villain, in order to try to make himself look like a hero,” said Jessica Vaughan with the Center for Immigration Studies.

“ICE is not asking local law enforcement agencies to help them arrest non-criminals, and for him to imply that they are is shamelessly manipulative, and could create fear among immigrants in the community.”

There are also potential legal risks. On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a lawsuit against New York officials for shielding illegal aliens by refusing to follow the law.

“This is a new DOJ,” Bondi told reporters. “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today.”

Charlie Alexander, a Marple Township resident and candidate for county council, also opposes the DA’s stance.

“Jack Stollsteimer’s comments today prove once again that he and the people running our county are more interested in serving their financial puppet masters than the people of Delco. This is why a change is needed, and I plan on bringing that change when elected to the Delaware County Council.

“After chastising the citizens of this county for months and calling concerned citizens liars about the sanctuary status of this county, Jack Stollsteimer’s comments prove that his council counterparts are nothing more than liars that cannot be trusted,” Alexander said.

State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware) said he was surprised at Stollsteimer’s stance.

“As a former federal prosecutor who prosecuted many illegal immigration cases, I can say that an ICE detainer is a valuable tool for keeping our communities safe,” said Williams. “An ICE detainer may be placed on anyone in custody of local authorities regardless of other criminal charges.”

Dustin Slaughter, a spokesperson for Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner, said Krasner’s policy is the same.

“Additionally, should any ICE officer violate the law in Philadelphia while carrying out their duties, we won’t hesitate to investigate and hold them appropriately accountable,” said Slaughter.

The district attorneys for Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties did not respond when asked what their policies regarding ICE apprehensions are. A spokesperson for ICE also declined to comment.

Stollsteimer, a Democrat, was elected to his second term as DA in 2023. In 2024, Stollsteimer ran for state attorney general and lost to Eugene DePasquale in a crowded primary.

Liberal billionaire George Soros contributed to both Stollsteimer and Krasner’s first campaigns for DA, among a bevy of progressive district attorneys nationwide.

Stollsteimer also ran for attorney general in the 2016 election. Josh Shapiro, now governor, won that contest.

As Pennsylvanians get ready to watch the first presidential debate Thursday night, they’re being treated to scary anti-immigration ads that castigate President Joe Biden over his open border policy, saying it’s led to the deaths of American women.

Conservative nonprofit Building American’s Future (BAF) says the ads are running in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania.

The ad campaign, “Joe Biden’s open border—a nightmare for American women,” tells the story of how an illegal immigrant who was already wanted for murder was released into the U.S. by the Biden administration. He allegedly went on to kill Maryland mother of five Rachel Morin.

The video ad anchoring the buy, entitled “Again,” closes by saying: “Rachel Morin. Laken Riley. And countless others. They should be alive. Joe Biden’s open border — a nightmare for American women.”

“Again” tells how the immigrant from El Salvador allegedly raped and killed Morin, leaving five children without their mother. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez was charged last week. Morin had been on a run when she met her demise.

“Again,” a 60-second digital ad, follows “Run,”  Building America’s Future’s viral ad featuring Laken Riley, who was also jogging when she was killed by an illegal immigrant. “Run” aired during Biden’s State of the Union address. “Run” garnered even more attention after CNN refused to air it. It was the only major cable news network that refused to air it.

The media buy also includes mobile billboards and 2D projections on famous buildings displaying portions of the ad in major metro areas of Atlanta, Greensboro, N.C., and Philadelphia. The paid media campaign around the debate runs from June 26 – 28 and will total more than $200,000.

Polls show Biden is vulnerable on the border chaos issue. A Morning Consult poll released earlier this month found former President Donald Trump with a 7-point advantage over Biden on who voters trust more to handle immigration. Among independents, Trump has a 22-point lead.

”These ads reinforce what almost all of us know: our southern border is wide open and too many of the people who snuck in have no regard for our laws or our lives,” said Guy Ciarrocchi, a conservative strategist and columnist for Broad+Liberty. “The ads explain the real impact of unsecured borders. The goal is less about having Biden voters change their minds; but rather, to remind those leaning to Trump why they can’t vote for Biden.”

Those concerns are apparently shared by Hispanic voters as well. A recent Equis poll of Latino voters in seven battleground states — including Pennsylvania — found 41 percent trusted Trump on immigration, as opposed to 38 percent for Biden.

“The disaster on the southern border Biden has caused is on a lot of minds. While it doesn’t require a lot of reminders, every opportunity to point out the horrible consequences of Biden’s failed policies is important,” said Charlie Gerow, a longtime Republican consultant.

The “AGAIN” spot says:

“It just keeps happening…

Laken Riley wasn’t the first.

And in Joe Biden’s America, sadly, she won’t be the last.

REPORTER: Also this morning, a major break in the murder case of a Maryland mother, the suspect was in this country illegally. He’s expected to be charged in the murder and rape of Rachel Morin.

Illegal immigrant Victor Hernandez.

He was wanted for murder… but Biden let him in.

REPORTER: Entered the country illegally after reportedly murdering a young woman in El Salvador.

REPORTER: He assaulted a 9-year-old girl and her mother at a home in Los Angeles.

Now, he’s charged with raping and beating Rachel Morin, mother of five, to death.

Rachel Morin. Laken Riley. And countless others. 

Joe Biden’s open border — a nightmare for American women.”

Biden’s campaign declined to respond to a request for comment.

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Republican Dave McCormick, a successful businessman running against Sen. Bob Casey Jr., called out the three-term senator for his votes on illegal immigration.

“Last night, while most were asleep, Bob Casey voted to allow Pennsylvania’s taxpayer dollars to fund illegal aliens’ flights into our country. This disaster is leading to the fentanyl deaths of 4,000 Pennsylvanians a year. A failure of leadership of disastrous proportions,” McCormick posted to social media after Casey voted for the $1.2 trillion omnibus spending bill.

Pennsylvania has been the destination for “ghost flights,” bringing hundreds of illegal immigrants here, often in the dead of night. And President Joe Biden’s policy of flying “paroled” illegals from Venezuela and Haiti into the U.S. is also under fire.

Casey also voted against the Laken Riley Act amendment to that spending bill. Riley, a young Georgia college student, was brutally killed while out on a run across campus, allegedly by an illegal immigrant. The bill would require that any illegal immigrant who committed burglary, larceny, shoplifting, or theft be detained.

McCormick also criticized his Democratic opponent for that vote.

“Laken Riley would still be alive if Jose Ibarra — an illegal immigrant — was deported after breaking our laws in the first place. Bob Casey just voted against making it easier to deport criminals like Ibarra. PA needs a senator who will fight evil, not enable it,” McCormick posted to X.

In September, Danelo Cavalcante, an illegal immigrant who escaped from the Chester County prison, kept police, state police and the U.S. Border Patrol busy as he evaded capture for 14 days. Cavalcante had been convicted of murder for the stabbing death of his girlfriend in August and was awaiting sentencing when he crab-walked between two walls to a roof and fled the jail. The manhunt led to fear and inconvenience for Delaware Valley residents, especially after he stole a rifle.

Casey also voted to give undocumented immigrants federal benefits, opposed border security measures, and voted to keep counting illegal immigrants in the U.S. Census.

He voted three times to keep giving federal money to sanctuary cities and opposed an executive order from former President Donald Trump to rein in sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities, including Philadelphia, don’t cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Casey also voted against Kate’s Law, which would have set mandatory minimums for deported felons who reenter the U.S. illegally.

Some illegal immigrants who’ve been flooding across the southern border are believed to be drug mules, bringing deadly fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S. The number of overdose deaths in Pennsylvania grew by 19.5 percent from 2019 (4,479) to 2021 (5,356). And 78.4 percent of all overdose deaths in Pennsylvania involved fentanyl in 2022.

The Casey campaign did not respond to requests for comment. However, a Casey spokesperson told another news outlet he opposes sanctuary  cities.  

But a new Cygnal poll commissioned by the Republican State Leadership Committee showed Pennsylvania voters are most concerned about inflation (32 percent) and immigration/border security (28 percent). The poll was taken March 10 through 12.

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Philip Letsou said, “Just one month after Laken Riley was murdered, Bob Casey voted to allow illegal immigrants to be released into the country, fund flights for illegals throughout the country, and continue funding sanctuary cities. Casey refuses to stand up to his party, and the Democrats’ radical agenda is making our country less safe.”

“Putting every Pennsylvanian at risk, Bob Casey is in lockstep with Joe Biden’s deadly, pro-criminal agenda. Casey has recklessly prioritized sanctuary cities and illegal immigrants over the safety of Keystone State families, who will reject his failures and vote Republican this November,” added Rachel Lee, Republican National Committee spokesperson.

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Should illegal immigrants be able to get Pennsylvania driver’s licenses? At first, the Shapiro administration seemed to support this idea. Now, not so much.

Answering questions from members of the House Appropriations Committee on March 4, Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll said he and Gov. Josh Shapiro favor allowing illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.

“The issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants is something that I support, the department supports, the governor supports, with safeguards necessary to make sure that folks that are issued those products are treated the same as folks that have a regular driver’s license or a naturalized citizen or a citizen of the U.S.,” Carroll said.

However, during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee two days later, Carroll was more tentative.

“There are other agencies that will have a role with respect to the oversight,” Carroll said in response to a question on driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants from Sen. Shariff Street (D-Philadelphia). “And it’s going to be important to make sure that those other agencies are able to get to a comfort level before that bill were to advance.”

Shapiro’s spokesman Manuel Bonder told DVJournal, “The Shapiro administration will continue to evaluate this proposal as it moves through the legislative process” — a far cry from a statement of support.

The bill (HB 769) sponsored by Philadelphia Democratic Reps. Danilo Burgos, Christopher Rabb, and Joseph Hohenstein would allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses and state identification cards. It remains pending in the transportation committee.

One member of that committee, Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Gilbertsville), told DVJournal, “Granting driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants undermines the rule of law in Pennsylvania, and I stand against it. Driver’s licenses are a privilege for citizens and legal residents, not those who broke immigration laws, to enter our country illegally. It undermines our immigration system and could threaten our national security.

“As a member of the Transportation Committee, I believe my job entails writing or approving legislation that ensures proper safety measures are being taken in all forms of travel throughout our state,” said Scheuren. “This policy just opens a whole new list of concerns that PennDOT has not yet addressed. I am very opposed to this legislation, and I hope the Shapiro administration reconsiders their support.”

Rep. Mike Cabell (R-Luzerne) asked Carroll on Monday about undocumented immigrants obtaining REAL IDs in Pennsylvania. Beginning in May 2025, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID, a passport, or military identification to board an airplane or enter a military base or federal building.

“Over a dozen states already allow noncitizens, including illegal immigrants, to obtain driver’s licenses,” said Cabell. Meanwhile, federal DHS (Department of Homeland Security) policy stipulates that states can offer REAL ID to those with TPS temporary protected status. Does Pennsylvania allow noncitizens with TPS to obtain a real ID?

Carroll said, “When it comes to REAL ID, I was in the House when the REAL ID was voted the first time, and I voted against it because I thought we had a REAL ID in Pennsylvania: it’s called a Pennsylvania driver’s license. (But) Pennsylvania complied with the federal requirement. I have the greatest level of faith in our Pennsylvania motor vehicle folks that those folks that are getting REAL IDs. About 20 percent of Pennsylvania drivers have a real ID at this point, have the documentation necessary to support that REAL ID.”

He mentioned the documentation can be challenging to obtain, especially for women who use their married name.

“But the issuance of REAL ID is not something that happens haphazardly in Pennsylvania,” said Carroll.

Cabell also mentioned ghost flights that drop off illegal immigrants at various locations in the middle of the night. Carroll said he did not know what ghost flights were.

“There was one that just happened. It was diverted into Philadelphia in December,” said Cabell. “The question is, are we positive that there are not people (who are) obtaining REAL IDs in other states, and entering into our state?”

Carroll didn’t know.

Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), the Republican chair of the committee, also asked Carroll whether “the administration does support licenses for illegal immigrants.”

Carroll said, “With the necessary safeguards so that law enforcement can do its job.”

Grove also asked whether the Department of State, which handles voter services, interacts with PennDOT. Deputy Secretary Kara Templeton said the Department of State and the counties have access to the SURE voter registration system. Last fall, Shapiro began a program to register voters automatically when they sign up for a driver’s license.

Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware), a candidate for attorney general, also opposes giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

Rep. Lisa Borowski (D-Newtown Square) said, “I look forward to learning more about the provisions of HB 769 when it is vetted through the committee process.”

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Chaos abounds at the border that is spilling over onto the streets of sanctuary cities and college campuses. Tragedies are playing out daily in America stemming from President Biden’s failure as a strategic manager.

Peter Drucker said strategic management requires “analytical thinking” and a “commitment of resources” to resolve issues. Both are sorely missing from border management.

First, the issue was never properly framed, so the public understood the rationale for open borders. This mean a strategy to achieve an outcome could not be created because goals were not in place.

President George H.W. Bush set a clear goal of removing the Iraqi army from Kuwait. And once it was achieved, for a variety of reasons, including his commitment to the coalition, hostilities ended. The goal was not to destroy the army of Saddam Hussein but rather to remove it as an occupying force.

So, let us speculate about President Biden’s goal. Was it people living in poverty? The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index puts the number of people living in poverty at 1.1 billion.

Perhaps the issue is human rights? Reuters reports, “more than a third of the world’s population, or 2.6 billion people, live in nations and territories gripped by repression, corruption and human rights abuses.”

Was it about climate refugees? According to the United Nations, 110 million people in 2023 were considered “displaced people” for a variety of reasons, including climate, war and natural disasters.

Failure to properly frame the problem means we lack a clear pathway toward achieving success.

The second strategic management mistake is Biden’s failure to fully assess resources, assuming instead that our social safety net is sufficient to meet the challenges posed by mass migration. Arguably, the social safety net was not working that well before the migrant influx, and the president would have known this by performing a simple stress test.

The president would have found that the performance of urban public schools is appallingly low and that the trend of teaching English as a second language is not sustainable when you are drawing migrants from 150 nations. He would have discovered in New York City, there existed a lack of affordable housing, leading to 150,000 New Yorkers living in the shelter system. He would have concluded that the influx of migrants would only exacerbate a growing problem.

He would have uncovered that emergency Medicaid for migrants has the potential to overwhelm the healthcare system and that diseases would likely be reintroduced into America because of the lack of vaccinations in many feeder nations. An assessment of our legal system would have uncovered police forces are underfunded and our justice system defanged. Neither can deal with the number of bad actors coming from all over.

It is essential in strategic management to ensure that your first move is the right move to gain support and continue building momentum behind your goals. The first move for migrants was to expand their dependency on government services. It is estimated by Homeland Security that the migrant crisis could cost Americans $451 billion annually. The total annual expenditure cannot be estimated going forward without a clear border strategy.

Finally, when managing an issue strategically, at the beginning, you have asked and answered what success will look like after that crisis has abated. The Senate bill signaled that we cannot stop illegal migration into America. The lack of strategy has led to a fluid approach focused on problem management. This is antithetical to strategic management, which demands leaders anticipate problems and prepare to meet the challenges they create.

It is time for us to begin to hold our elected leaders to a higher standard as strategic managers and stop relying on spending, which is not linked to a clear executable strategy, to solve every issue.

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With the U.S. southern border in chaos, Pennsylvania Republicans are supporting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in his efforts to prevent waves of illegal immigrants from crossing into the U.S. And they want Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) to step up, too.

In December, Customs and Border Patrol reported a record 302,000 migrant encounters at the U.S./Mexico border. More than 7 million illegal immigrants have crossed into the country since President Joe Biden took office three years ago, according to the House Homeland Security Committee.

One of Biden’s first acts was to stop construction work on the border wall initiated by his predecessor, former President Donald Trump.

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13), and Majority Whip Ryan P. Aument (R-36) circulated a co-sponsor memo Wednesday for a resolution affirming Abbott is lawfully exercising his constitutional authority to defend his state and its citizens.

It comes in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire that Texas forces deployed along the Rio Grande in an attempt to prevent illegal border crossings.

The Senate resolution also calls on Shapiro to join 25 GOP governors across the country publicly endorsing Abbott’s actions. The resolution also calls on the Biden administration to stop fighting Texas’ efforts and instead commit resources to support the Lone Star State in securing the border.

“Many of us are hearing from our constituents who are concerned with this troubling crisis and who have expressed a desire for us to help take a stand against the Biden administration’s disastrous border policies. This resolution reflects our duty to uphold our oath to support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and ensure the safety of its citizens,” the lawmakers said.

“State and local officials across this country have sounded the alarm regarding the straining of their resources, the scourge of fentanyl deaths, the tragedy of human trafficking, including children smuggled across the border, and the flow of illegal firearms and dangerous gang members; all exasperated by the disastrous enforcement at our borders by the Biden administration.”

The resolution will likely go before the full Senate for a vote next week.

Similarly, the letter penned by Rep. Michael Cabell (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) and signed by dozens of representatives calls on Shapiro and Attorney General Michelle Henry to support Texas’ Operation Lone Star.

“While Operation Lone Star should be credited for, in a relatively short span of time, apprehending approximately 500,000 undocumented immigrants and seizing enough Mexican fentanyl to kill the entire population of the United States, additional manpower and resources are urgently needed to stem the tides of unlawful migration, human trafficking, and deadly narcotics trafficking,” the letter to Shapiro reads.

“At a time when the federal government has demonstrated an unmistakable aversion to countering this ever-increasing surge in illegal immigration, we encourage you to honor your commitment to ensuring that Pennsylvania ‘does not leave any state with an oversized responsibility’ in addressing the crisis at our southern border. Indeed, like you, we believe that all states, including Pennsylvania, share an obligation to fight this crisis to safeguard our communities and uphold the rule of law.”

Delaware Valley Reps. John Lawrence (R-West Grove), Donna Scheuren (R-Gilbertsville), and Milou Mackenzie (R-Bethlehem) signed the letters.

Also, Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), who ran against Shapiro for governor in 2022, called on Shapiro to send Pennsylvania National Guard troops to help Texas.

“Reckless federal government policies have created a crisis at our nation’s southern border,” Mastriano said. “Every state is now a border state. Pennsylvania has a compelling interest in helping secure the southern border of the United States. Fentanyl has flooded communities throughout our commonwealth, school districts are increasingly burdened, and strained social safety net funds are being diverted.”

Asked to comment, Shapiro’s spokesperson Manuel Bonder said, “Gov. Shapiro has been clear that our country needs a secure border and Congress needs to pass comprehensive reform to fix our broken immigration system. This issue requires leaders from both parties to step up and deliver real, comprehensive solutions — not the failed talking points and political grandstanding that have brought us decades without immigration reform.”

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Three illegal immigrants from Argentina were arrested for burglary in Radnor last week, while a fourth alleged gang member escaped police.

Radnor Police Superintendent Chris Flanagan said Abington Police had alerted his department to suspects driving around upscale neighborhoods and breaking into homes.

Flanagan said the burglars used a “high-tech” device to disable alarm systems and ring the doorbells of homes they were targeting. Residents of a house on the 500 block of Huston Road were home at the time of the break-in but were not harmed, police said.

Matis Sanchez-Diaz, 30; Miguel Guzman-Pardo, 43; and Yanara Venegas-Rodrigues, 23, are charged with burglary, criminal trespass, loitering and possession of instruments of crime, police said. All three are in the U.S. illegally after overstaying tourist visas.

They are in George Hill Correctional Facility and held on $200,000 bail. A fourth suspect remains on the loose. The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office did not respond when asked if the defendants would be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A spokesperson for ICE did not return calls.

Radnor police were notified by Abington Police about the suspected burglars on Jan. 19. At 5:35 p.m. that day, they responded to a burglar alarm malfunctioning at a house on Huston Road and noticed a rear glass door had been forced open.

They stopped a car that was driving less than a mile from Huston Road and found burglary tools and the alarm jammer, police said. The vehicle is believed to have been involved in various burglaries in the area, including in Lower Merion, through license plate reading technology in Radnor Township.

Officer Stephen Henry stopped the car when Henry and other officers noticed broken glass in it, similar to the glass from the broken door. They arrested the three defendants.

A fourth suspect, Alejandro Vincento Gallardo, escaped. Police described him as a Latino male, about 5-foot-tall and in his 20s. He was wearing a black jacket and black pants.

He was last seen running in the area of north I-476. If you see him or have information about his whereabouts, please call the Radnor Township Police at (610) 688-5600.

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The specter of charter planes landing in the dead of night at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport carrying unaccompanied illegal immigrant minors has become a campaign issue for the GOP.

Republican Lou Barletta, a former mayor and congressman now running for governor in 2022, called out Democrats Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro for their lack of action on the issue. Barletta, a longtime opponent of illegal immigration, told the Delaware Valley Journal he would bus illegal aliens to President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware if the federal government continued to ship them to the Keystone State. And he raised the issue of the ghost flights in a DVJournal podcast.

“We can’t let the federal government just drop people off in this country in the middle of the night without any background on who they are or what their health and COVID status is. This nonsense stops when I’m governor,” Barletta said on Facebook.

Shapiro, a Democrat, is also running to replace the term-limited Wolf. Shapiro’s spokeswoman deferred a request for comment to the federal Health & Human Services Department, which did not immediately respond.

“It has been confirmed that there have been four clandestine charter flights of illegal immigrants from El Paso, Texas to northeast Pennsylvania: On December 11, December 17, and twice on Christmas night. Further flights are expected on December 30 and 31,” Barletta said on his campaign website.

He also sent a letter to Wolf and Shapiro concerning the flights.

“While the federal Department of Health and Human Services claims that minors on the flights have been given ‘catch-up’ vaccines for a variety of diseases, it is difficult to comprehend how that could be the case. Under Pennsylvania law, children are required to be immunized against many diseases, and some require multiple doses spread out over long periods of time,” Barletta said.

“I asked Gov. Wolf, did he know about this? Were they vaccinated?” Barletta said during a Fox News appearance last week. “And I’m not only talking about COVID. Pennsylvania law requires any minors, before they can go to school, to [be vaccinated for] polio, hepatitis, mumps, measles, chickenpox. Were criminal background checks done? And where were they going? Shouldn’t the people in those communities, those school districts, know? And there was no answer at all.”

Wolf spokesperson Elizabeth Rementer said the governor viewed it as a federal issue.

“As any elected official should know, immigration is a federal matter; instead of making this a political PR stunt, their questions are best directed to the federal government,” Rementer said. “That said, the administration sought further information from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Had any of the elected officials sending letters/statements asked, they would have received the same information that we have from HHS.  Over recent weeks, unaccompanied children passed through the Wilkes-Barre airport en route to their final destination to be unified with their parents or vetted sponsor. These were not ICE flights as the legislators have claimed.”

Rementer also claimed the children being brought to the state are vaccinated and those with symptoms must quarantine.

“While traveling, unaccompanied children are required to wear masks and follow all federal guidelines for safe air travel,” said Rementer.

Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies, said, “This conversation gets right to the heart of the border problem – it is the states that have to bear the fiscal and security burden of the Biden administration’s policy to allow unlimited entry of families and kids crossing the border illegally. The states and localities where the migrants are settling are not consulted, or even informed, about who is arriving, yet they will have to provide education, social services, jobs and housing for them indefinitely, not to mention deal with the few among the migrants who turn out to be criminals. Biden is doing this in the dead of night because he can’t defend the policy in the light of day.”

Republicans aren’t letting the issue go.

Former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, also a GOP candidate for governor, said he would stop the flights if he were governor.

“We are a nation of laws. This requires our government leaders to uphold the rule of law – and not do things like transport illegal immigrants into Pennsylvania in the dead of night,” McSwain said in a statement. “These ‘ghost flights’ are a slap in the face to law-abiding Pennsylvanians and yet another example of Joe Biden’s willingness to prioritize taxpayer-funded accommodation of lawbreakers over the safety of American citizens. The people of Pennsylvania deserve better than to be duped into receiving hundreds of unvetted illegal immigrants into their communities.”

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, (R-York) who is expected to announce his gubernatorial candidacy on Jan. 8, also sent Wolf a letter claiming flights with more than 100 illegal immigrants have landed in both Erie and Scranton. He asked if state funds were used for these immigrants and called upon the governor to stop the flights as well.

“Our own citizens have serious needs,” said Mastriano. “And it is irresponsible to divert any resources to those who are in the country illegally.”

Dave White, former Delaware County councilman and gubernatorial candidate, also weighed in. “Rather than conducting these flights with illegal immigrants under the cloak of darkness, Pennsylvanians deserve transparency. With spikes in crime and COVID-19 infections spreading, we cannot allow Joe Biden’s open border policies to spread to Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, Biden, Tom Wolf, and Josh Shapiro have embraced and rewarded lawlessness.”

Carla Sands, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, took to Facebook to express her concerns.

“Biden has left our borders wide open and now Pennsylvanians are paying the price. Four ghost flights packed with illegal immigrants landed in Scranton just a few days ago. This is Biden’s mess but it’s all part of his open borders agenda,” she said. Sands, a former ambassador under Trump, called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign.

GOP Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz weighed in on Facebook, as well. “Biden’s border crisis has turned every state into a border state & the effects of his disastrous, open-border policies have rippled across our country, sadly even into the Wilkes Barre-Scranton area. We need strong leaders who will secure our border.”

Meanwhile, Republican Senate candidate Kathy Barnette, a frequent Fox News commentator, posted a video on Facebook about the issue.

“We can have great sympathy and heart for those particular illegal aliens coming into our country who truly want a better chance in life,” said Barnette. But she noted, “We are a nation of laws. Right now we are blowing through the Constitution like a whale moves through a net.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment for this article. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told the Times-Tribune that it had not organized the flights.

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