While the Biden administration spent years leaving our southern border wide open, the Trump team is wasting no time rounding up the bad guys who snuck in. The results speak for themselves! Just this week, federal agents nabbed one of the most dangerous MS-13 leaders.

Where was he hiding out? In a swing state far from the border. But wouldn’t you know it? Democrats are still throwing wrenches in the works, with liberal judges blocking enforcement and sanctuary cities refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Fortunately, some Republican leaders aren’t sitting back and watching this madness continue. They’re fighting back with something Democrats understand all too well – money. Or rather, the threat of taking it away.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is leading the charge with a bold new plan to strip state funding from any locality that refuses to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His proposed budget amendment would hit sanctuary cities where it hurts – right in the wallet. The plan requires local law enforcement to notify federal authorities 48 hours before releasing undocumented immigrants charged with crimes.

From ‘Just The News’:
“We must prioritize the safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth and stop localities from returning criminals, who entered the country illegally, back out into our communities to potentially commit more crimes,” the administration said in a December fact sheet.

Sanctuary or Sanctuary for Criminals?

Need proof that Youngkin’s plan is desperately needed? Look no further than the arrest of Henry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old illegal alien who turned out to be one of the top MS-13 leaders in America. FBI agents found him hiding out in a Virginia suburb, complete with a personal arsenal of weapons, including silencers.

“Make no mistake — he was one of the top leaders, heading up all MS-13 violent crimes on the East Coast. He was responsible for heinous acts, and he should never have been in this country,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said after the arrest.

What’s truly shocking is that this violent gang leader had been living in the country illegally for about a decade. According to Bondi, he was recruited by MS-13 when he was in middle school. Let that sink in – MIDDLE SCHOOL.

When Good Cops Get to Be Cops

The MS-13 leader’s arrest was part of a Trump-backed operation that has nabbed more than 340 dangerous criminals in Virginia in just one month. That’s what happens when law enforcement agencies are allowed to work together instead of having their hands tied by sanctuary policies.

FBI Director Kash Patel put it perfectly: “This is what happens when you let good cops be cops.”

The joint operation, launched on March 3, involved the FBI, ICE, ATF, the Virginia State Police, and Prince William County Police Department. It’s already being hailed as a model for nationwide cooperation.

Youngkin’s defunding plan builds on an executive order he issued in December, which directed local law enforcement agencies to comply with ICE and threatened to withhold state per diem jail payments for noncompliance. The amendment would codify those directives by denying state funding to jurisdictions that refuse to play ball.

Follow the Law or Lose the Funds

Sanctuary cities like Fairfax County have adopted policies that actively obstruct federal immigration enforcement. Fairfax’s “Trust Policy,” adopted in 2021, explicitly states: “It is not an appropriate use of Fairfax resources to facilitate enforcement of federal immigration law, which is the sole responsibility of the federal government.”

This kind of obstruction has real-world consequences. In November 2024, Fairfax County faced scrutiny when Denis Humberto Navarette Romero, a Honduran national with a lengthy criminal history, was arrested and charged with rape. Local authorities released him without honoring ICE detainer requests, sending him back into the community where he allegedly made further threats.

Youngkin added, “If counties don’t operate with ICE, we’ll defund them.”

The governor’s proposal is part of ongoing budget negotiations, with a vote expected during the General Assembly’s session in April. Meanwhile, the FBI is taking the Virginia task force model nationwide – a clear endorsement of Youngkin’s approach.

As Erik Siebert, interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, warned after the MS-13 leader’s arrest: “To the criminals, all I have to say is, ‘we’re coming.'”

Key Takeaways:

• Sanctuary cities like Fairfax County are enabling dangerous criminals like MS-13 leaders to hide in plain sight in our communities.
• Governor Youngkin’s plan to strip funding from sanctuary localities puts public safety first and creates real consequences for dangerous policies.
• The successful arrest of a top MS-13 leader in Virginia proves that when local and federal authorities work together, they can take dangerous criminals off our streets.

Sources: Just The News, New York Post