DHS: No 'Medieval Sanctuaries' Except, You Know, the Entire Patriot Act
AP News reports Cook County’s top judge ordered ICE to stop arresting individuals in and around courthouses, aiming to ensure access to justice. The Department of Homeland Security, however, fired back, stating, “We aren’t some medieval kingdom; there are no legal sanctuaries where you can hide and avoid the consequences for breaking the law.” This 'common sense' defense conveniently sidesteps the
U.S. government's own history of creating vast legal gray areas and 'sanctuaries' for itself. One might recall the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court, operating in secret, or the myriad legal loopholes protecting corporate executives from 'consequences for breaking the law' while simultaneously surveilling everyday citizens. The message is clear: 'rule of law' is for thee, not for
me. The DHS's indignation over losing a tactical advantage reveals a deeper truth: 'law and order' often translates to 'our order, our law, whenever we say so.' They decry 'medieval kingdoms' while operating with a level of impunity worthy of a monarch. The attempt to create legal safe spaces for vulnerable populations to access justice is met with rhetoric typically reserved for international
criminals. It appears the only 'sanctuary' the U.S. government truly respects is its own unquestioned authority.