Where was the liberal outrage then?

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Former Democrat President Barack Hussein Obama was often called the "Deporter-in-Chief," as the Obama administration removed more than 3 million illegal aliens over eight years, the highest number in U.S. history.

By comparison, during his first term, President Donald Trump recorded roughly 1.2 million to 1.5 million deportations, which was well below the pace set by the Obama administration.

Having owned Highland County's only locally owned and operated newspaper for the Obama presidency, I cannot recall any readers' comments, politicians' comments, media meltdowns or letters to the editor from local Quakers, stating "We oppose the U.S. government’s policy of mass deportations and ongoing harassment of undocumented immigrants in this country," as published in this newspaper in November 2025.

In fact, I cannot recall much of anything even discussed about Obama's millions and millions of deportations of illegal aliens. No protests. No riots against law enforcement.

Moreover, in 2015, I do not recall a single objection when Obama presented Homan with a "Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 (see the White House photo below) for his sustained extraordinary results as the Executive Associate Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). This high-level federal honor recognized Homan's leadership and commitment within the Department of Homeland Security during the Obama administration. Homan was leading ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations at the time." – (Source: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ero-ead-thomas-homan-receives-2015-pr…)

Oh, that's right, under the Obama administration, Homan was a hero doing a yeoman's effort in removing illegal aliens from the United States. We will get back to Mr. Homan in a moment.

Now, let's look at the runner-up* (the asterisk is explained below) Deporter-in-Chief, another former Democrat President in Bill "Slick Willie" Clinton. During Clinton's two terms in office from 1993-2001, his administration recorded approximately 2 million formal removals.

However, when including voluntary returns and border removals, the Clinton administration deported about 12.3 million people, the highest overall total, thus the aforementioned asterisk.

Clinton also signed the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which laid the groundwork for modern, stricter deportation policies. Good for him and good for the nation.

By the way, I was a newspaper editor and/or publisher for all of Clinton's two terms; and again, I cannot recall any readers' comments, politicians' comments, media meltdowns or letters to the editor from anyone demanding Clinton open our borders and welcome all and sundry to illegally cross over.

That was then. Even though Obama only left office nine years ago, it seems like two generations ago. 

After four absolutely miserable years of former Democrat President Joe Biden's utter incompetence – during which time as many as many 10 million illegal aliens were crossing U.S. borders – the illegal alien issue has only metastasized.

Until now. The second Trump administration is pushing back and attempting to remove the illegals. And Obama's decorated hero Tom Homan is once again leading the charge. Isn't that special?

Meanwhile, the liberal uprisings against law enforcement among the usual-suspect cities are merely side-show distractions. Citizens who attack officers, disrupt church services, break into hotel lobbies and commit numerous crimes in the process ought to be arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced accordingly. These are not "peaceful protesters" exercising a First Amendment right. There are no rights for their criminal behavior. Arrest them.

Real Clear Wire columnist Kenin M. Spivak, writing here this week, pointed out that "Most of the recent vitriolic opposition to ICE is a feint by unrepentant open-borders progressives. They won the first round when Joe Biden was elected president, lost the second when Donald Trump returned to office, and are back for a rematch.

"Democratic leaders portray ICE agents as violent Gestapo thugs and murderers. They claim ICE kidnaps good people off the street, rips apart their families and communities, and deprives them of due process. They give lip service to deporting the 'worst of the worst,' but they lead sanctuary cities that release hardened criminal illegal aliens and incite protesters to harass and prevent ICE from arresting rapists, child predators and killers."

Correct. And for those who are sympathetic to the injuries or shootings of the protesters, remember: Their unwise and illegal actions caused their end results. Any parent, spouse, sibling or so-called friend who encourages (or funds) another to join a protest against an active law enforcement operation is similarly unwise.

Sanctuary cities beget sanctuary city results.

There have been "candlelight vigils" across some U.S. cities for two recent casualties of those interfering where they don't belong, and that's all well and good. How many nationwide vigils were held for these people?

Women and girls killed by illegal aliens

• Below is a list of known female victims whose cases have received public attention and been cited in various reports and government testimonies: 

Laken Riley (22) - A nursing student killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February 2024. An undocumented immigrant was arrested and charged in her death.

Rachel Morin (37) - A mother of five who was abducted and murdered on a hiking trail in Maryland in August 2023. An undocumented immigrant from El Salvador was charged with her rape and murder.

Jocelyn Nungaray (12) - A young girl found murdered in a Houston bayou in June 2024. Two men from Venezuela who were in the U.S. illegally were charged with capital murder.

Kayla Hamilton (20) - A woman with autism who was sexually assaulted and strangled in her Maryland home in July 2022. An undocumented immigrant, a documented MS-13 gang member, was arrested.

Mollie Tibbetts (20) - A college student who went missing while jogging in Brooklyn, Iowa, in July 2018. An undocumented farm worker was found guilty of her murder.

Kate Steinle (32) - A woman who was fatally shot on a San Francisco pier in July 2015. The shooter was an undocumented immigrant who had been deported multiple times.

Laura Wilkerson (NA) - Her son, Joshua Wilkerson, was murdered by an undocumented immigrant who was convicted of murder and is on death row in Texas. Her case is often mentioned by victim advocacy groups.

Shauna Millang Garton (NA) - Mentioned in social media posts as a victim of a violent crime committed by an undocumented immigrant.

Janet Horrell (NA) - Also mentioned in social media posts as a victim.

Ruby Garcia (NA) - Mentioned by advocates as a victim.

Lizbeth Medina (NA) - Mentioned by advocates as a victim.

Jocelyn Toaquiza (NA) - Mentioned by advocates as a victim.

Melody Waldecker (NA) - Mentioned by advocates as a victim.

Christina Duran (NA) - Mentioned in social media posts as a victim.

Sarah Root (21) - Killed in a car crash by a drunk driver who was an undocumented immigrant and was released from custody. 

These names represent a fraction of cases that have been publicly highlighted. Victim advocacy groups, such as the victims' family members referred to as "Angel Moms" by the Department of Homeland Security, actively share their stories and call for stronger border enforcement. 

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County's only locally owned and operated newspaper.

Below, President Obama presented Homan with a Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service in 2015.