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Thanks to President Donald Trump, the term “fake news” has entered the lexicon in a big way.
We’re not sure the president himself even really believes major media outlets are disseminating “fake” stories about him.
But we do agree with Trump on one thing when it comes to how his administration has been covered to date — the mainstream press is essentially ignoring some of his accomplishments.
For example, Trump and his no-nonsense Attorney General, former Sen. Jeff Sessions, are re-establishing law and order in some places where it is sorely needed. And as part of that overdue effort, the federal government is cracking down big time on violent, often drug-based gangs and gang members.
However, these extremely productive sweeps are being relegated to the back pages of newspapers or the tail end of newscasts — footnotes after all the clamoring about the ongoing Russia probes and the Trump White House being in supposed turmoil.
So, since you might not know about some of law enforcement’s gains in recent weeks, here is a quick recap:
• In pre-dawn raids in Los Angeles last Wednesday, the feds picked up about two dozen alleged members of the brutal MS-13 gang, which the Associated Press says has expanded to just about every state. (And yes, that includes Pennsylvania and even Luzerne County.) In all, an anti-racketeering indictment names 44 members and associates of the gang, including a former leader of the LA chapter.
“Today’s actions will deal a critical blow to the top leadership,” said acting U.S. Attorney Sandra Brown in the aftermath of the massive operation.
Unfortunately, gangs have become synonymous with the City of Angels. So, it was a great place to make a show of force.
• That news was followed up by another AP story Friday on the arrests of 83 members of the United Blood Nation across five states, including the Carolinas, Virginia, Florida and New York. That good work was again coordinated by the Sessions-led U.S. Department of Justice.
We can guarantee you to expect more of this stuff as long as the New York billionaire sits in the Oval Office.
In fact, Trump has vowed to eradicate MS-13, calling it out by name in several tweets last month.
One stated: “The weak illegal immigration policies of the Obama Admin. allowed bad MS 13 gangs to form in cities across U.S. We are removing them fast.”
Trump and Sessions are in lockstep, it seems, when it comes to the theory that getting tough at the border will eventually pay dividends at home in weakening well-established gangs. They want to stop the flow of hardened gang members entering the U.S. and are committed to deporting the ones they can after law enforcement picks them up in crackdowns like the recent ones noted above.
“Our motto is justice for victims and consequences for criminals. That’s how simple it is,” Sessions said recently. “Prosecute them, and after they’ve been convicted, if they’re not here lawfully, they’re going to be deported.”
We believe this is one of the best arguments the Trump administration can make for the border wall, extreme vetting, and other get-tough measures. If those things will make America safer, why not?
In the meantime, we say “Bravo, President Trump!” for this stepped-up enforcement at home, including the almost 40 percent hike in immigration arrests so far this year.
Maybe if we get a full two terms, or eight years, of this type of action, the “American carnage” the president spoke of in his inaugural address will finally cease, and gang-riddled cities like Los Angeles and Chicago can finally take back their streets.
— Times Leader