Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has vowed to resist President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans, even indicating he is willing to face jail time over the issue. Johnston’s stance has drawn both attention and criticism, particularly after comments last week likening potential deportation enforcement to a “Tiananmen Square moment.”
Speaking to reporters, Johnston initially suggested that Denver residents would form a human barrier against federal deportation efforts, saying, “You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants.” He compared the scenario to the iconic standoff between a protester and a tank in China’s Tiananmen Square.
In a subsequent interview with 9News, Johnston walked back the remark, acknowledging it was a poor choice of words. “Would I have taken it back if I could? Yes, I probably wouldn’t have used that image,” Johnston said. “That’s the image I hope we can avoid.”
While softening his rhetoric, Johnston doubled down on his willingness to protest policies he deems “illegal or immoral or un-American.” Asked if he would go to jail for resisting the deportation plan, Johnston responded, “Yeah, I’m not afraid of that, and I’m also not seeking that.”
Johnston expressed conditional support for deporting violent criminals, emphasizing his administration’s willingness to collaborate if federal efforts target offenders of serious crimes like murder or rape. However, he made clear his opposition to broader mass deportations. “We think if you are a violent criminal… you should be deported. We support that. But what we won’t support is using Denver to stage mass deportations.”
Trump’s incoming administration has proposed a significant escalation in deportation operations, including targeting individuals with standing removal orders. The plan has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic leaders in states such as Illinois, Arizona, and Massachusetts, with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs calling it a “misguided” and “terrorizing” policy.
Conversely, Republican-led states like Texas have expressed strong support. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has offered over 1,400 acres near the border to assist with staging deportation efforts, declaring, “We are more than happy to offer our resources to facilitate those deportations of these violent criminals.”
The divide between Democratic and Republican states highlights the contentious nature of Trump’s immigration agenda, as local and state leaders brace for the challenges and conflicts it will bring.
