On April 19, a three-judge panel of the federal appeals court in Chicago ruled against the Trump administration’s effort to withhold federal funding from cities and states that refuse to do the work of the federal government on immigration law enforcement.

Quoting from the opinion: “If the Executive Branch can determine policy, and then use the power of the purse to mandate compliance with that policy by the state and local governments, all without the authorization or even acquiescence of elected legislators, that check against tyranny is forsaken.”

It is interesting that the word “tyranny” was used in the opinion and that the original judge issuing the injunction, as well as all three appellate judges, were Republican appointees. It should be a lesson to Congressional Republicans regarding their dereliction of duty toward preservation of our democracy.

Over the approximate year and a half that Donald Trump has held the position of President, my concern about his disrespect for American institutions has grown. His demands for “loyalty” from DOJ appointees and departments, his attempts to define new immigration policies based on religious beliefs, and his absolute lack of focus on protection of our election system from established interference by foreign governments are a few examples.

While this erosion has taken place, the Republican majorities of both Congressional houses have demonstrated no propensity to stop it. In essence, these bodies have become party to the attack by not asserting their Constitutional duty to intercede.

The time has come for the citizens of our country to replace legislators who have been complicit in Trump’s attacks on our democracy with individuals who will stand up to him and resist his efforts to impose tyrannical rule on our nation.

Tim Walls

St. Joseph