Sanctuary cities are a national sovereignty problem
Federalism is one of conservatism’s defining constitutional commitments. Conservatives rightly resist federal micromanagement of schools, policing, land use, and countless other matters that belong to the states.
TL;DR
- Federalism is a core conservative principle, advocating for states' rights in areas like education and policing.
- Sanctuary cities, however, actively obstruct federal immigration policy, which is constitutionally a national government responsibility.
- The Constitution assigns immigration and naturalization uniformity to the national government, similar to foreign policy and treaty powers.
- While anti-commandeering protects states from being forced into federal programs, actively frustrating federal law is obstruction, not federalism.
- Immigration concerns national sovereignty and determining membership in the political community, distinct from traditionally shared domestic policy areas.
- Allowing cities to nullify national immigration laws threatens democratic self-government and national unity.
- The conservative commitment to federalism supports national sovereignty and requires respecting constitutional responsibilities assigned to different government levels.