It’s a favorite saying of the American right when advocating for stricter immigration laws: “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.”
It’s usually attributed to Ronald Reagan, the Republican hero who was nearly unimpeachable in his patriotism and his commitment to conservatism. The same Reagan whose legacy is now being gleefully dismantled by President Donald Trump’s MAGA army, which cares little for history or principle.
Despite today’s Republicans turning on Reagan, they still very much love trotting out this line.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., posted it on X late last year.
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., put it in his newsletter in 2023.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., referenced it on the House floor a few years ago.
And here’s Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., using it in her House floor remarks last year.
And Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., announcing a border security bill in January 2024.
Even Trump, who once said Americans consider him “far greater” than Reagan, seems to love the line, using it several times over the course of his political career.
I happen to agree with it. If borders are merely polite suggestions, and our government rewards illegal immigration with incentives, sanctuary and comfort, they lose all meaning.
But borders aren’t the only thing that make us a nation. There are other things, too.
Namely, our laws — you know, those things that are enumerated in our Constitution?
A long list of violations
Just to refresh, we have several kinds of laws in this country, including constitutional, statutory, administrative and common. These laws are created by our government, and they are enforced by courts and police.
Believe it or not, this was pretty uncontroversial, until a few weeks ago, when Trump and his unelected and unconfirmed MAGA mercenaries at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) started ignoring them entirely.
The list of violations is impressively long, considering we’re less than a month into Trump’s second term:
- Ending constitutionally protected birthright citizenship.
- Dismantling departments and agencies created by statute without seeking congressional approval (USAID, CFPB, DOE).
- Criminalizing lawful diversity programs.
- Mass firing civil servants without any legal authority.
- Stopping agency payments, a violation of the Impoundment Control Act.
- Illegally firing inspectors general.
- Capping overhead rates on university grants, violating the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act.
- Accessing the U.S. Treasury payment system and illegally downloading records.
‘Rule of law is a bright beacon’
While Trump may believe the executive branch is the only one that matters, our judicial branch is weighing in, needless to say. The administration is facing more than a dozen lawsuits challenging his extrajudicial executive orders.
Trump’s plot to end birthright citizenship, for one, is now subject to two nationwide injunctions after 22 states moved to sue him for the illegal executive order.
U.S. District Judge John Coughenour of the Western District of Washington, a Reagan appointee assigned to these cases, had this to say: “It has become ever more apparent that to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals. Nevertheless, in this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow.”
The rampant lawlessness has also caught the attention of the American Bar Association, which released a scathing statement this week that read, in part:
“This is chaotic. It may appeal to a few. But it is wrong. And most Americans recognize it is wrong. It is also contrary to the rule of law.
“The [ABA] supports the rule of law. We have consistently urged the administrations of both parties to adhere to the rule of law. We stand in that familiar place again today. And we do not stand alone. Our courts stand for the rule of law as well.”
So, how can they do this, you may wonder? Well, they’re not asking for permission or forgiveness, but instead simply forging ahead with a “you bought it, we break it” attitude usually reserved for rage rooms and — inexplicably — the support of Republican leaders who definitely know better.
Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson — both attorneys, I might add — have absurdly endorsed the lawlessness.
Vance posted on X: “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
Johnson said Vance was “totally right.”
Of course, Vance is not totally right, and ideally our courts will act as the system of stanchions and bollards they are meant to against Trump and his wrecking balls. But they will be tested, I have no doubt.
As for Republicans — who want to be taken seriously when they tell us what makes us a nation: It’s a pretty unserious argument that we can’t be a nation without borders, but will do just fine without laws.
S.E. Cupp is the host of “S.E. Cupp Unfiltered” on CNN.
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