Rob Finnerty pulled back the curtain this week and reminded Americans what many of us already suspected: the same Democrats who once voted for and celebrated tough immigration enforcement now posture as the champions of open borders. Finnerty’s segment laid out the contrast plainly, calling out the party’s sudden conversion to compassion only when it suits their political calculus.
The truth is not new to students of recent history — Democrats played a central role in the hardline immigration overhaul of the 1990s. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, signed into law in 1996 during President Clinton’s administration, tightened removal rules and expanded enforcement powers, a measure that enjoyed support from both parties at the time.
If anyone remembers the era when Democrats claimed they were tough on illegal immigration, the facts back that up: Obama’s administration oversaw record deportation figures in the early 2010s, earning him the derisive nickname “deporter in chief” from some on the left. Government data and independent analyses show formal removals peaked under that period, proving that Democratic rhetoric and Democratic action have not always aligned with today’s hand-wringing.
So what changed? The answer is obvious and ugly: power and votes. As Rob Finnerty and other conservative voices have noted, the modern Democratic Party has pivoted toward sanctuary policies and relentless resistance to enforcement because importing reliant voters is now strategy, not principle. That cynical calculation betrays hardworking Americans who expect consistent leadership and the rule of law.
Patriots should be furious but pragmatic — call out the double standard and demand consistent enforcement of our laws. We can respect families while also insisting that sovereign nations control their borders and that citizenship matters. Our leaders, regardless of party, should be judged by their actions, not their press releases, and right now too many are hiding behind theatrics while our communities pay the price.
Conservatives must keep the pressure on: push for secure borders, back our officers, and refuse to let the political class rewrite history to excuse their current failures. Americans deserve a party that stands for border security and the rule of law, not one that flips positions when it becomes politically convenient.
