Blaze News original: San Diego County's 'super' sanctuary vote reveals deep divides within community



As the United States prepares for a new presidential administration focused on mass deportations, leaders in San Diego County have chosen to defy these plans by passing a controversial policy that fortifies and expands sanctuary protections for illegal aliens. This decision has ignited a fierce backlash from both local law enforcement and residents.

Following President-elect Donald Trump's election victory in November, many liberal leaders vowed to stand in the way of his administration's mass deportation efforts.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) pledged to "Trump-proof" the state by pushing through bills that would serve as roadblocks to the incoming administration. Newsom has also ensured that Attorney General Rob Bonta has the funds to sue the administration. During Trump's first term, California filed more than 100 lawsuits against him.

In later November, the Los Angeles City Council rushed to pass a "sanctuary city" ordinance to send "a very clear message" that the city refuses to "cooperate with ICE in any way," according to council member Hugo Soto-Martinez (D). The measure passed unanimously.

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas introduced a similar measure following Trump's victory.

On December 10, the board approved Vargas' proposal to double down on the county's sanctuary status. Despite the board's 3-1 vote, the public remained deeply divided on the issue.

Public comments

More than 100 residents signed up to speak on Vargas' proposed policy, listed as Item 29, "adopting a board policy on immigration enforcement to enhance community safety." Further, the policy received more than 500 electronic comments.

‘You guys are protecting child sex traffickers.’

Leading into the public comments, Vargas warned that some residents and even fellow board members would likely share "a lot of misinformation" about her proposal.

Residents advocating for the policy — several of whom introduced themselves by their pronouns — argued that county resources should not be used to aid the federal government with mass deportations. Numerous individuals expressed concerns about family separation and possible human rights abuses. Others contended that failing to pass the measure might undermine the community's trust in local law enforcement.

Reverend Lenny Duncan told the board of supervisors that he supported the policy.

"As a Christian, I'm taught that Jesus has to run from political violence to Egypt. It's actually part of the story, Councilman [Jim] Desmond," Duncan stated, addressing the sole Republican supervisor present at the meeting. "We need to vote 'yes' on this and continue to be a Madisonian democracy. Maybe the slim majority of Americans wanted this, but the majority of Californians don't."

As Duncan stepped away from the microphone, a resident in the crowd corrected him, shouting, "It's a constitutional republic."

Robert Hicks, the assistant regional director for the Anti-Defamation League's San Diego branch, also voiced support for the measure on behalf of the organization.

"Immigrants and refugees are an integral part of our San Diego community. We are grateful that the county has decided to advance protections for immigrants that will keep families together and ensure immigrants are treated with humanity, dignity, and respect," Hicks told the board.

Multiple individuals in support of the measure seemed to repeat a near-identical phrase claiming that the San Diego County Sheriff's Office has been using local resources to assist federal immigration officials with deportation efforts.

The board of supervisors abruptly called for a recess when a male resident started shouting over a speaker who had just regurgitated the same line.

Upon reconvening after the recess, the county proceeded to hear from residents opposed to the measure.

While one local was speaking, another resident held up a thick stack of papers, flipping through what appeared to be headlines documenting crimes perpetrated by illegal aliens.

"Man who shot at California cop previously deported, arrested but cops wouldn't honor ICE detainer, feds say," one paper read.

"Illegal immigrant accused of raping 13-year-old at knifepoint," another stated.

‘The Sheriff's Office does not coordinate with, nor will it delay an individual's release to accommodate immigration officials.’

Eli Komai, a San Diego resident, called Vargas' policy "toothless."

"I'd like to make you aware of why these immigrants are coming to the United States in the first place. They're seeking out a homeland that has more law and order; that is safer, is not run by gangsters or cartels, or communists," Komai stated.

"If you cross in here illegally, you're a criminal," he remarked.

Intermittent disruptions from the audience prompted Vargas to order everyone to clear the chamber as the board concluded the public comment section by listening to those who had called in remotely.

Resident Natalie Hayes openly criticized the numerous religious leaders who had spoken during the meeting in favor of the measure.

"You guys are protecting child sex traffickers," Hayes stated. "I don't hear you out here speaking for them, veterans, or any American children that are also being affected by what's coming into this border."

The vote

Vargas argued that her policy aligned with state legislation passed under former Gov. Jerry Brown (D). She specifically mentioned Brown's California Assembly Bill 4, which prevents local law enforcement from honoring ICE detainer requests, and California Senate Bill 54, which prohibits the transfer of illegal immigrants to ICE custody and forbids notifying the federal agency about inmate release dates.

Vargas' policy read, "Today's actions will adopt a resolution and Board Policy L-2 to affirm the County shall not provide assistance or cooperation to ICE in its civil immigration enforcement efforts, including by giving ICE agents access to individuals or allowing them to use County facilities for investigative interviews or other purposes, expending County time or resources responding to ICE inquiries or communicating with ICE regarding individuals' incarceration status or release dates, or otherwise participating in any civil immigration enforcement activities."

The policy forces county officials to obtain a warrant signed by a state or federal judge to communicate with ICE.

Ahead of the vote, Desmond voiced his concerns about the measure.

‘California's policymakers are more focused on “Trump-proofing” the state than addressing the needs of everyday Californians.’

Desmond argued that the policy went "beyond California's existing sanctuary laws by adding an additional layer of bureaucracy that hinders local law enforcement from directly notifying ICE about illegal immigrants who are currently in our jails, and they have committed heinous crimes."

He noted that such crimes included "child abuse or endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs — but only if this conviction is for a felony — possession of an unlawful deadly weapon, gang-related offenses, a crime resulting in death or involving personal affliction or great bodily injury, possession or use of a firearm in the commission of an offense, torture, rape, and kidnapping."

Desmond's objections were disregarded, and the rest of the board voted to pass the policy.

In an unexpected turn of events, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office quickly released a statement announcing its refusal to adhere to the newly passed policy.

The sheriff's office argued that the board of supervisors does not have the authority to set its policy.

"The sheriff, as an independently elected official, sets the policy for the Sheriff's Office. California law prohibits the board of supervisors from interfering with the independent, constitutionally and statutorily designated investigative functions of the sheriff, and is clear that the sheriff has the sole and exclusive authority to operate the county jails," the statement read. "The Sheriff's Office will not change its practices based on the board resolution and policy that was passed at today's meeting."

Sheriff Kelly A. Martinez, a Democrat, also released a statement regarding the office's decision not to comply with the board's measure.

"As the sheriff of San Diego County, my number-one priority is protecting the safety and well-being of all residents of our diverse region. While protecting the rights of undocumented immigrants is crucial, it is equally important to ensure that victims of crimes are not overlooked or neglected in the process. Victims include undocumented individuals — these vulnerable individuals express to me that their legal status is used as a weapon against them when offenders from their community victimize them," Martinez wrote.

In a statement to Blaze News, the sheriff's office confirmed that it "will not be expanding or changing anything we have been doing."

"We will continue to follow state law and maintain the way we have been operating for several years. The Board Action sought to impose restrictions well beyond those already provided for in-state law regarding how local law enforcement can work with immigration officials."

A spokesperson explained that the sheriff's office believes the "current state law strikes the right balance between limiting local law enforcement's cooperation with immigration authorities, ensuring public safety, and building community trust."

‘There was really no listening to the voice of the people.’

In response to residents' allegations about the use of county resources to assist federal immigration officials, the spokesperson provided clarity on the specific situations in which the sheriff's office can lawfully communicate with ICE.

"State law allows for the Sheriff's Office to share release dates for individuals who are in Sheriff's custody only if they have qualifying convictions for specific serious, violent, or sex crimes," the spokesperson said. "If an individual has a qualifying conviction, state law authorizes local law enforcement to notify immigration authorities of that person's release date. Immigration officials decide whether they will be present when the individual is released from custody."

"The Sheriff's Office does not coordinate with, nor will it delay an individual's release to accommodate immigration officials," the office remarked, referring to ICE's detainers, which request local law enforcement hold individuals up to 48 hours after their scheduled release date.

The sheriff's office told Blaze News that it has no plans to seek legal action against the county over the policy.

Community response

Following the sheriff's announcement, Komai told Blaze News, "I am relieved that Sheriff Martinez and her staff are aware of state law and aren't so easily hoodwinked, they must have plenty of experience dealing with false pretenses!"

Komai continued, "The aspect of the resolution that demands the greatest clarity is how it has no bearing whatsoever on state law, even though it 'claims' to fly in the face of it. The board, their staff, and many members of the public (including those in the Americanist cause) seem to misunderstand state law. The California state constitution creates the office of the sheriff. Sheriffs are elected independently of County Supervisors and retain their autonomy under the California state law."

Desmond also told Blaze News that he felt relieved by the sheriff's office's refusal to adhere to the new policy. Nevertheless, the vote highlighted how disconnected lawmakers are from their constituents, he pointed out.

"California's policymakers are more focused on 'Trump-proofing' the state than addressing the needs of everyday Californians. They're rolling out the red carpet with free benefits like health care and in-state tuition for those here illegally, while also providing $5 million for legal defense fees," he stated.

"Yesterday's vote is part of that radical agenda. Ending ICE coordination on serious crimes like rape, child abuse, and gang violence leaves our communities vulnerable," Desmond continued. "This isn't just a theoretical issue. Last year in San Diego County, there were 25 ICE transfers involving crimes like kidnapping, burglary, and DUI. Thanks to coordination between local law enforcement and ICE, those dangerous individuals could be deported."

Homan has called Vargas' policy '10 times worse.'

He stated that his constituents are grateful to him "for being the lone 'no' vote and for standing up for common sense in an increasingly radical political environment." However, he noted that residents are profoundly worried about the impacts the policy will have on the safety of their community.

"The message I'm hearing is clear: San Diegans want leadership that prioritizes public safety over partisan politics," Desmond declared.

Kim Yeater, a San Diego County resident and co-founder of the Take Our Border Back alliance, told Blaze News that she felt the decision to pass the policy was determined before locals had a chance to share their thoughts with the board of supervisors.

"It was almost as if the decision was already made. So there was really no listening to the voice of the people," she stated. "I'm really shocked, but I'm not surprised."

Yeater voiced concerns over how open border policies are fueling the fentanyl crisis and allowing unvetted, violent gang members to enter the country. She labeled the situation a "national security breach" and warned that residents might be "putting way too much trust in the people we've elected."

"We, the people, have got to stand up and come together and show up because it's the only way we can hold these elected officials accountable to do the work that we have hired them to do," Yeater said.

Trump's incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has pledged to bring the hammer down on sanctuary jurisdictions like San Diego County. Homan vowed to accomplish Trump's mass deportation mission with or without help from local politicians, noting that Democratic leaders' refusal to cooperate with ICE would only lead to more federal immigration officers on the ground in their communities.

Homan has called Vargas' policy "10 times worse" than the state's existing sanctuary laws.

The San Diego Sector has emerged as one of the most heavily trafficked sections of the southern border. In fiscal year 2024, the sector saw a 40% increase in encounters compared to the previous year, which experienced a 31% rise from fiscal year 2022.

El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells (R) has consistently raised concerns regarding the effects of the Biden administration's immigration crisis on the county.

Wells said in a statement to Blaze News, "The feds cannot ignore the lawless decrees of the San Diego Board of Supervisors. If they do, they will be sanctioning anarchy. I don't see President Trump and Tom Homan allowing Nora Vargas to circumvent the will of the American people. Public safety is not a game, and elected officials should not play with lives for political stunts."

House Committee investigates surge of Chinese nationals illegally crossing border after Biden relaxes vetting: Report



The House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability plans to investigate the surge of Chinese nationals illegally crossing the border after the Biden administration relaxed the vetting process, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

According to Customs and Border Protection reporting, in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, border agents nationwide encountered 42,000 Chinese nationals compared to 18,000 during the same period the previous fiscal year.

The committee will hold a hearing on Thursday to discuss the approximately 8,000% increase in Chinese illegal immigration in the United States since March 2021, a spokesperson for the committee told the DCNF.

'We have no idea who they are, why they're here, and what their history is.'

U.S. Representative Dan Bishop (R-North Carolina), chair of the subcommittee, told the news outlet that a "wide-open border presents a ripe opportunity for the [Chinese Communist Party] to undermine our national security."

"This dramatic surge calls for intense scrutiny — especially as Border Patrol agents have been instructed to decrease vetting for Chinese nationals in order to process them into the country faster," Bishop stated. "As the CCP continues its quest for geopolitical dominance and threatens our sovereignty, we must examine the risks presented by releasing ever-increasing numbers of minimally vetted Chinese nationals into our communities."

Todd Bensman, a senior national fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, is one of three experts expected to testify during Thursday's hearing.

Bensman told the DCNF, "Intelligence community assessments show that China intends to ramp up espionage and political suppression campaigns in the coming years inside the U.S. and will need an expanded labor force for the effort."

The news outlet revealed earlier this year that the Biden administration had instructed CBP to significantly reduce the number of questions posed to Chinese nationals who had entered the country illegally since April 2023. The vetting process, which previously consisted of 40 questions, was reduced to five, effectively fast-tracking the illegal aliens' release into the interior of the country. According to the internal email obtained by the DCNF, the questions concerned "Military Service," "Universities," "POB/Region," "Employment," and "Political Party."

Bensman told the DCNF that the administration's policies have "created pitch-perfect conditions" for "the infiltration of Chinese agents of espionage." During his testimony, Bensman is expected to share photographs of identification cards and passports abandoned by Chinese nationals before crossing the border illegally.

Bill Wells, the mayor of El Cajon, California, recently shared a video on X showing hundreds of discarded and torn IDs found near the San Diego border. He noted that some of the IDs had been lit on fire.

Why are illegal immigrants ripping up their IDs and passports when they enter America? They want to create a new identity so that Border Patrol has no idea who they are.\n\nI visited @thecorygoat house, who lives next to the border and has picked up hundreds of torn-up IDs around\u2026
— (@)

"There's a reason for that — they don't want anyone to know who they are. They want to apply for asylum, get their court date for five years in the future, and disappear into the interior of the country," Wells told Blaze News. "We have no idea who they are, why they're here, and what their history is."

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Blaze News investigates: The TRUTH behind China's stealth US border invasion — 'America can only be destroyed by the enemies within'



The Biden administration's open-border policies have fueled a staggering increase in illegal immigration at the northern and southern borders. New research indicates that an increasing number of these illegal immigrants do not come originally from Mexico or countries farther South, but rather from Asia.

Customs and Border Protection officials have been reporting massive increases in Chinese nationals attempting to illegally enter the country, particularly since late 2023.

'We see the women get off the bus. They're immediately contacted by the Chinese taxicab drivers.'

The Daily Caller News Foundation reported earlier this year that the White House relaxed the interview vetting process for Chinese nationals who have illegally crossed the border, further fast-tracking their entry into the country.

In December, NewsNation captured a video in Jacumba Hot Springs, California, showing a massive caravan of Chinese nationals who had crossed the border illegally.

HAPPENING NOW\ud83d\udea8 Large groups of migrants , mostly Chinese national men crossing illegally through open gaps on the border wall in Jacumba Hot Springs , CA @NewsNation \n\nTomorrow San Diego County officials will vote on whether the county will spend $3 million in taxpayer funds for\u2026
— (@)

In the first six months of fiscal year 2024, Customs and Border Protection officials nationwide encountered nearly 42,000 Chinese nationals, a 133% increase compared to the same period last fiscal year, when they encountered just over 18,000.

Most Chinese nationals illegally crossing the southern border into the United States enter through the San Diego Sector, which has experienced the most encounters in April of all other sectors in the nation. In fiscal year 2023, the San Diego Sector's CBP experienced almost 231,000 illegal immigrant encounters. So far, in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, there have already been more than 185,000.

These eye-popping numbers reported by CBP do not account for the known or unknown gotaways who entered the U.S. without being apprehended by law enforcement officials.

Jessica M. Vaughan, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, told Blaze News that the increase in Chinese nationals illegally entering the country can be attributed to the fact that the "news has spread that if you can make it to the U.S. border, chances are you will be allowed to stay, perhaps indefinitely."

El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells has been sounding the alarm about the open-border crisis and reporting on how it is impacting the San Diego Sector in particular. Wells detailed his recent visits to the southern border in a series of videos shared on X.

While touring the border, we came across a group of primarily Chinese nationals who had just crossed the border illegally. The group was walking on a dirt road in the middle of the night, looking for Border Patrol to take them to the City of San Diego.
— (@)

"I was out there in the middle of the night, and we're driving down these dirt roads and we come across 30 Chinese families — men, women, and children. Just standing there in the middle of nowhere in the dark, maybe 10 miles away from a highway. And they're just waiting to be picked up by the Border Patrol," Wells told Blaze News. "I talked to them. They didn't speak English very well. And I think that some of them probably spoke English better than they let on, but they're just coming over in waves."

He explained that the caravans crossing the southern border are "not just randomly happening" but are part of a highly organized effort. Wells and many others have found countless abandoned IDs and passports scattered in the desert.

Why are illegal immigrants ripping up their IDs and passports when they enter America? They want to create a new identity so that Border Patrol has no idea who they are.\n\nI visited @thecorygoat house, who lives next to the border and has picked up hundreds of torn-up IDs around\u2026
— (@)

"There's a reason for that — they don't want anyone to know who they are. They want to apply for asylum, get their court date for five years in the future, and disappear into the interior of the country," Wells told Blaze News. "We have no idea who they are, why they're here, and what their history is."

He warned that the open-border crisis and relaxed vetting provide a dangerous and easily exploitable opportunity for foreign government actors and terrorists to "slip into the interior" of the country.

"The communist government of China does not see us as an ally; they see us as a competitor in their quest to dominate the world. And I think they've got a vested interest in damaging the United States at any cost. I also know that they've been heavily involved in espionage and stealing technology. And it certainly is a lot easier to do that when you've got tens of thousands of Chinese migrants coming in, and, of course, I would assume some of those are government agents," Wells told Blaze News.

He said the shift in illegal immigrants crossing into California can be blamed mainly on the state's "political climate."

"We're a sanctuary state. Our governor has no interest whatsoever in trying to dissuade people from coming across," Wells added.

In September, San Diego County had 140,000 street releases, according to Wells. Around the same time, Wells noted that he started seeing fewer illegal immigrants from Central America and more from China and Africa.

"The federal government has some goal in mind — I think we all know what it is; it's to change the balance of power in Congress forever. But that goal is so important to them that they do not care about how many people are going to die. I think that's pretty frightening," he stated.

Wells said that the nongovernmental organizations tasked with transporting and providing humanitarian aid to the illegal immigrants are quickly moving the individuals out of the area and relocating them to other parts of the state.

Once the illegal immigrants cross into the country in San Diego County, they are picked up by Border Patrol agents. Iris Avenue Transit Center serves as the primary drop-off point for illegal aliens.

John Fabbricatore, a retired Immigration and Customs Enforcement Denver Field Office director and current Republican congressional candidate for Colorado's 6th District, told Blaze News that Chinese nationals moving through South America to get to the U.S.-Mexico border are paying significant amounts of money.

"They're also being taken care of much better as they move through South America. They are being transported in buses. They have better guides. They're getting food while they're getting through. And that gets all set up by criminal organizations," Fabbricatore said. "These Chinese criminal organizations are actually raising this kind of A+ rating for moving Chinese migrants through South America," often in partnership with the Mexican cartels.

In a video posted on X, Wells described seeing female Chinese nationals being picked up by male Chinese taxicab drivers at the transit station in San Diego County.

Federal data shows a surge in Chinese migrants illegally crossing the US-Mexico border, setting a new record with 24,200 arrests over the last six months, predominantly concentrated in San Diego County.
— (@)

"We see the women get off the bus. They're immediately contacted by the Chinese taxicab drivers," he told Blaze News. "These aren't just guys that show up there. They sleep outside of their taxicabs on the ground. They make cooking fires at night. Their whole life is wrapped around bringing these Chinese people to undisclosed locations."

Wells stated that, at this point, he has not confirmed where these women are being taken and why.

"I was with somebody who spoke Mandarin overhearing, and they said that they were talking about getting to locations in Los Angeles. My speculation is that to pay off their debt to get into the country, they're working in sex trafficking and being taken to the brothels they're going to be working in. But I have no confirmation," he said in an interview with Blaze News.

Vaughan, with the CIS, explained that "it would be easy to get away with this kind of an abusive criminal scheme under the current policies."

Women crossing the border illegally are "released with few questions asked," she told Blaze News, because "officers are too overwhelmed to be able to screen for trafficking situations." She noted that even if a trafficking situation was detected, the females would be "unlikely to divulge much information because they will fear for the safety of their families in China."

"This would not be the first sex trafficking scheme involving Chinese women, and it won't be the last, unless we start doing a better job enforcing our immigration laws. But this is an example of how tolerating and encouraging illegal immigration leads to other problems," Vaughan said.

Relaxed border vetting

Air Force General Gregory Guillot told the Senate Armed Services Committee in March that the influx of Chinese nationals illegally crossing the border is "a big concern" of his, noting the potential for "counter intelligence to hide in plain sight in those numbers," Blaze News previously reported.

Vaughan told Blaze News that she believes "most of those crossing the border illegally are relatively ordinary workers looking for better opportunities in the United States, and some are willing to do their time in service to the drug cartels to get out of China."

"Some may be spies — why wouldn't China try that? — but the reality is that most any Chinese citizen here as a student or white-collar worker could be enlisted as a spy for China, and those in schools, on research projects, or working for innovative U.S. companies or the government are in a better position to carry out espionage. The men crossing the border illegally are more likely lower-level operatives or ordinary workers," she remarked.

Fabbricatore informed Blaze News that he believes a greater threat to national security is from destabilization efforts within the country.

"A lot of people just look at it and they see young males crossing the border, and they think the Chinese are sending their military over here. And I don't see that. This isn't 'Red Dawn.' We're not going to see a bunch of soldiers pop up. But it doesn't take that to bring the United States down. It takes people in positions to lead other people to be dissidents and to lash out at the U.S. and have rallies against the U.S. And to just put us into a flux of chaos," he stated.

"It takes people stealing our advanced technology and using that in China and making it so that they get something to the market before we do. There are a lot of things the Chinese government can do to destabilize the United States, and it doesn't necessarily have to be through force," Fabbricatore added.

To move illegal immigrants through quickly, the Border Patrol has pulled back on its vetting processes, allowing potentially dangerous individuals to slip through undetected. For thorough vetting to occur, illegal aliens would need to be held in custody for about two weeks, Fabbricatore explained.

When illegal immigrants enter the country, they are apprehended and transported to a processing facility where their biometrics are collected and an interview is typically conducted, he told Blaze News. The illegal aliens’ information and fingerprints are run through law enforcement systems to check for previous criminal activity.

"But if that person has never been in the U.S., they're not hitting on anything because most of the systems that we're searching through are U.S.-based systems where if a person has come in contact with law enforcement or the FBI, there will be something in the system on them," Fabbricatore continued. "Now, there are more advanced systems that that information travels through, but it's a longer process and doesn't have an initial red flag that comes up."

"The vetting used to be better with the intelligence-gathering, and it's a lot less now because they're just quickly going through those initial interviews," he noted.

'The young people have been indoctrinated, schooled for years to become American Red Guards to do the destruction of our American ideals and values and traditions.'

In addition to the administration's relaxed border policies acting as a magnet for foreign nationals to cross into the country illegally, Vaughan explained that the increase in entries could also be attributed to "the emergence of Chinese organized crime groups expanding their involvement in illegal marijuana growing and in money laundering for the Mexican drug cartels."

"We can be confident that there is a connection and that the lax border and interior enforcement has facilitated this business model of illegal weed grows in rural areas with workers in a state of bondage, enforced with violence," she continued. "According to federal law enforcement agents, the Chinese crime groups are now the money laundering partners of choice for the Mexican drug cartels, because the Chinese developed a model to successfully launder the funds more quickly and more cheaply than the Mexican money brokers who used to do this job."

The Chinese triads are "controlling a lot of these weed grows that you're seeing in the northern part of our border," including in Maine and upstate New York, Fabbricatore told Blaze News.

The threat of the CCP

Fabbricatore stated, "We know for sure that the Chinese are sending assets over to the United States — 100%. You can see that in some of the secret police stations that the Chinese have set up in some of our cities. ... Those are CCP assets that they have sent over to the United States to find dissidents, to find these real asylum-seekers who are coming into the U.S. and speaking out against the Chinese government."

He mentioned that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had shut down the foreign police station operations and arrested some individuals involved.

Lily Tang Williams, a Republican congressional candidate in New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District, told Blaze News that the Department of Justice may have closed down the offices, but that has not stopped the CCP from continuing its operations.

Williams expressed that she is "very, very concerned" about the influx of Chinese nationals crossing the southern border illegally. Tang Williams grew up in China during Mao Zedong's cultural revolution, and she is now determined to "prevent the country she loves from becoming the country she left."

"I have been speaking up about my story for a while, and because of that, the [Chinese Communist Party] has discovered me. And they've threatened me since 2019 to say, 'Shut up,' or, 'You are a wanted criminal when you come back to China to visit your family and friends," Tang Williams stated, adding that she has been unable to see her loved ones since the threats began.

She said she is concerned about her safety and the CCP's influence on American systems.

"I'm afraid that people don't understand China. That is a very complicated issue," Tang Williams remarked. She explained that Xi Jinping aims to ensure that China takes over as the top global power, including "militarily, economically, diplomatically, and technologically."

"There's a strong force united to really destroy our country from within," she told Blaze News. "I truly believe America can only be destroyed by the enemies within."

Tang Williams explained that the federal government has allowed China to "infiltrate" America for decades. She noted that the CCP's influence and control is much more significant than most realize.

"For the U.S. particularly, they have sent the Confucius Institute funded by the Chinese government in the name of promoting culture and the language. ... At the end of last year, I think at most of the college campuses, the Confucius Institute ceased to exist, but I heard they changed names," she warned. "That's the tactic."

Fabbricatore echoed Tang Williams' concerns in a statement made to Blaze News, noting that the CCP has exploited student and work visa programs to plant assets that fuel destabilization efforts.

Tang Williams stated that news outlets in the U.S. that broadcast and publish content in Mandarin are all owned by pro-CCP actors.

"Now, you talk about business associations, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, friendship societies, sister cities, university exchanges," she continued. "It's amazing, all that deep infiltration."

Tang Williams explained that Mao Zedong used identity politics to seize control.

I am a survivor of Mao's Cultural Revolution. Here are some of his revolution features and tactics. You can judge yourself if these look similar with today's American woke cultural revolution.\n\n1. Mao started Cultural Revolution to purge his political enemies and become a\u2026
— (@)

"There is a similarity between the cultural revolution in China and the woke revolution in this country. And the young people have been indoctrinated, schooled for years to become American Red Guards to do the destruction of our American ideals and values and traditions," Tang Williams told Blaze News.

"Marxism is 'oppressor versus oppressed.' So they are constantly creating the new oppressed group," she added. "It's by design. ... Our young people just don't know; they don't realize it."

When asked about the border crisis and recent increase in Chinese nationals illegally entering the U.S., Tang Williams told Blaze News, "I'm very concerned a legal immigrant, like me, has been totally forgotten — people who come here, follow the laws. My brother waited 13 years to come here legally from inside China. And those people are being punished."

Tang Williams explained that a "very organized" system exists for Chinese nationals seeking to immigrate to the U.S. illegally.

"I have watched some TikTok videos in Chinese," she said. The online posts "tell people where to sleep in South America, what route to take to avoid the criminals." Tang Williams explained that they arrange for drivers to pick them up once they have arrived in the U.S.

"Some people are truly wanting to escape China for freedom, come here, live a better life," Tang Williams stated. "But there's lots of military-age men. They do not even want to be photographed, and they don't want to talk. And it sounds like it's very organized, the whole activity. Even telling them which border to enter."

Tang Williams told Blaze News that if the White House and Democrats truly cared about immigrants, they would speed up processing times for those who have applied to legally move to the U.S. She called the administration's open-border crisis a "mad house."

"They are doing this on purpose; this massive illegal migration movement is also supporting and funding the dividing of nations. ... Why do they just open up the borders? There is clearly an agenda to help one party," Tang Williams continued. "[Democrats] only think about their own power grab and staying in power. And getting [illegal immigrants] fast-tracked to get a Social Security number to work and to become voters."

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