Randi Weingarten, the perennial president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has long presided over the decline of American education, particularly in urban centers. But apparently, wrecking our schools isn't enough; now, this architect of academic failure has set her sights on undermining America's border security and the rule of law itself.
In a predictable display of unhinged activism, Weingarten recently staged a dramatic "rant" outside the ICE facility at Delaney Hall. With theatrical pointing and gesticulating, she declared, "This is one of the most despicable things that our current government does. They put people — people have not committed any crimes — they are immigrants. They deport them, or they… detain them and deport them in conditions that are unimaginable."
Here we go again. To claim that individuals detained by ICE "have not committed any crimes" is either a profound display of ignorance or a deliberate falsehood designed to mislead. These are not merely "immigrants"; they are illegal immigrants. Their very presence in the country without authorization is, by definition, a violation of federal law. This isn't complex, it's the fundamental principle of a sovereign nation with borders. And yes, "we are deporting them." That is precisely what a nation of laws does when individuals violate those laws. Every single person illegally present on American soil is subject to deportation. That's not "cruelty," Ms. Weingarten; that's the consequence of breaking our immigration statutes, passed by our elected representatives.
Weingarten further claimed to have seen "families coming out [of Delaney] who had just visited their loved ones… They work hard. They play by the rules. They should not be detained or deported because we have a broken immigration system." "Play by the rules"? Seriously? Entering the country illegally is quite literally not playing by the rules. It's a blatant disregard for the legal framework that protects our sovereignty and defines who belongs here.
The Department of Homeland Security, tasked with upholding these very laws, had a direct response to such dangerous rhetoric. A DHS spokesperson stated, "Dangerous rhetoric from politicians and activists demonizing our brave ICE officers has led to the over 8,000% increase in threats against DHS law enforcement who are heroically performing their congressionally mandated mission to remove criminal illegal aliens from communities across the country." So, Weingarten's theatrics aren't just misinformed; they actively fuel hostility against the very men and women dedicated to protecting our nation.
It's often tempting to tell Randi Weingarten to "stay in her lane," but frankly, she has already driven American education off a cliff. Under her leadership since 2008, American schools have plummeted. Reading and math scores are in a steady decline, and middle school history scores are at their lowest since 1994. The AFT, under Weingarten, has consistently fought against common-sense reforms like charter schools, voucher programs, and even homeschooling.
Her foray into immigration policy is not a deviation, but rather an extension of a consistent pattern: undermining foundational American institutions and the rule of law. It's not enough to dismantle academic standards; now, the same playbook is being applied to our national borders. Americans deserve leaders who uphold the law, secure our nation, and focus on genuine solutions, not those who grandstand and peddle falsehoods that actively endanger our dedicated law enforcement officers and further erode public trust in our institutions. The America First movement stands firm: secure borders, law and order, and accountability for those who seek to undermine them.
