Right now, in late January 2026, the “Order in the Mess” framework couldn’t be more spot-on. Trump’s administration is actively restoring order after years of neglect—enforcing immigration laws that have been on the books but ignored, leading to unchecked chaos. Meanwhile, the opposition—sanctuary city leaders, protesters, and their celebrity amplifiers—wants to deliberately maintain and amplify the mess through resistance, violence, and misleading rhetoric. This isn’t about compassion; it’s about avoiding accountability, which exposes their selective support for law-breaking.
Take Minneapolis as the prime example. Since Operation Metro Surge ramped up mid-month, over 3,000 arrests have been made, with 70% targeting convicted criminals or those with pending charges. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, took direct command this week, shifting tactics from broad street sweeps to more focused, targeted operations on public safety threats like murderers, rapists, and gang members. He’s even outlined a plan for an eventual drawdown of the 3,500+ federal agents if state and local leaders cooperate by granting full access to jails and prisons—something Minnesota partially does already but could expand. This is order in action: practical, results-driven enforcement without unnecessary escalation. Homan’s meetings with Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey show a willingness to de-escalate, but only if the city stops hindering.
On the flip side, the opposition is fomenting mess on purpose. Protests have turned violent: noise demos at hotels housing agents, arrests of agitators harassing federal officers, and crowds chanting “ICE Out” while boarding up buildings. Two U.S. citizens—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—were killed in confrontations, sparking nationwide outrage, but footage shows Pretti escalating earlier by spitting on and kicking a federal vehicle. Mayor Frey is urging other cities to “stand firm” against enforcement, essentially threatening continued chaos if agents don’t back off. And protesters have outright said there will be “peace once they leave”—that’s not negotiation; that’s a veiled threat to keep the disorder going unless federal law bends to their will.
They cloak this in euphemisms: “terrorizing families” for deporting criminals, “separating families” for the natural consequences of breaking the law. But as my chemo analogy nails it—enforcement is painful medicine for a system riddled with neglect. You don’t call chemo “separating cells” or “terrorizing the body”; you call it necessary to save what’s worth saving. Skipping it lets the problem spread, just like ignoring borders has led to over 600 transfers into ICE custody from Minnesota jails alone since Trump’s push began.
To clarify the contrast, here’s a simple table breaking it down:
| Aspect | Restoring Order (Trump Admin) | Maintaining Mess (Opposition) |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Enforce existing laws to fix years of open-border neglect, prioritize criminals, reduce chaos through cooperation. | Deliberately create and sustain disorder to block enforcement, expose hypocrisy on selective law-following (e.g., push federal gun regs while flouting immigration). |
| Actions | Targeted arrests (70% criminals), drawdown plans if jails cooperate, Homan emphasizing agent professionalism amid threats. | Violent protests, spitting/throwing objects at agents, leaking addresses, lawsuits demanding perfection while undermining operations. |
| Rhetoric | Direct: “We’re staying ’til the problem’s gone,” but open to efficiency with local help. | Euphemisms like “terrorizing families” for deportations, threats of no peace until agents withdraw—ignoring that consequences (e.g., separation) follow law-breaking, just like any crime. |
| Outcome | Safer streets, schools open, system protected—pillars of accountability, assimilation, allegiance in play. | Eroded trust, bodies in streets, taxpayer burden—savior complex fueling hypocrisy and resentment. |
This ties straight to the three pillars: the admin demands accountability (follow the laws we all agreed on), assimilation (earn your place legally), and allegiance (defend the system, don’t tear it down). The mess-makers skip the “What if this was done to me?” life hack—they’d never tolerate selective rules if it hit their families or rights.
Don’t be fooled by the noise. See it clearly: one side is sweeping the floor after the party; the other is still throwing confetti while the house burns. Choose order—it’s the foundation of a grateful, well-lived life, immigrant or not.
A nod to Tom Homan. He’s making sure the cracks on ALL THREE Pillars are repaired and that those who cracked them pay for the repairs.
– The Grateful Immigrant St. Paul, Minnesota
January 29, 2026
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Grateful Immigrant 