Tom “Sorry Not Sorry” McClintock Steps in it Again

In a recent commentary published in the Sierra Sun Times, Congressman Tom McClintock pulled out his favorite dog whistles to his MAGA base, declaring that Democrats “unleashed the largest illegal mass migration in history” that must now be followed by the “largest repatriation in history.”  He goes on to say sarcastically that he is “Sorry Not Sorry for Immigration Enforcement.”

He accuses sanctuary cities of shielding criminals and even claims more than a million illegal aliens have voluntarily returned home with U.S.-arranged transportation and stipends, which does not appear to be supported by any publicly available facts.

While McClintock attempts to sound tough and unwavering, his commentary is full of exaggerations and false and misleading statements. He knows the Trump Administration is not prioritizing criminals for deportation – rather it’s all about meeting arbitrary quotas for people rounded up by ICE – and he does not seem to care that innocent people, including US citizens and those with legal status and no criminal records are being caught up in the dragnets.

He also knows Americans overwhelmingly don’t like these new harsh deportation policies, necessitating ICE to hide their faces in fear and shame while McClintock makes stuff up in order to impress his MAGA base and stay in Trump’s good graces.

McClintock has repeated these lies so often, we have to wonder whether he is taking his inspiration from Joseph Geobbels, the Nazi propaganda chief who is best known for his quote “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”  If you doubt that, think about how advertising works – it’s all about frequency of the messaging.

It’s important to rebut his egregious claims forcefully and often, because truth matters.

FALSE CLAIM: “Largest illegal mass migration in history… engineered by Biden.”

TRUTH: It is true that migration numbers increased under the Biden administration, but this is a gross overstatement. There’s no evidence of a deliberate or “engineered” policy aimed at promoting mass illegal entry.  Courts and immigration experts point to logistical chaos, not intentional promotion of illegal immigration, as a cause of this surge. Furthermore, this is a bipartisan issue, not a Democratic one – as Congress has repeatedly failed to pass meaningful immigration reform despite decades of attempts to do so.

In fact, it’s the Republicans who have killed the reform bills more than once. Recall the recent comprehensive immigration reform measure negotiated by a bi-partisan committee (lead by ultra-conservative Senator James Lankford) in the run up to the 2024 election.  A considerable amount of work was put in by both sides and it was on track to pass and become law until Congressional Republicans, on order from their MAGA King, killed the bill – in order to keep the issue alive and unsolved to use as a campaign issue. What does that say about what Trump and his minions care most about? Winning at all costs – even if all the rest of us lose.

FALSE CLAIM:  Our immigration laws “say clearly and unambiguously that any and every adult who illegally enters our country “shall be detained.”

TRUTH: Immigration law is complex and nuanced, but nowhere in the statute does it state “clearly and unambiguously” that detention is mandatory for all illegal immigrants.  In fact, the law states the opposite – in most cases, detention is discretionary, except in certain well-defined situations that do not apply to the majority of persons caught illegally crossing the border.

FALSE CLAIM: “Unless they’re charged with a crime, they have the right to leave detention any time they want for any country that will admit them.  What they don’t have is the right to remain in our country, unless a judge determines otherwise.”

TRUTH: Tell that to the thousands of innocent people with protected legal status such as Asylum Seeker, Refugee, Temporary Protected Status, Green Card holder, etc, who have committed no crimes yet have been caught up in violent ICE raids and imprisoned against their will in facilities such as “Alligator Alcatraz,” Guantanamo Bay or worse – including El Salvador’s infamous CECOT prison, where nobody leaves alive.

These people clearly have NOT been allowed to “leave detention any time they want” and in fact, many have spent months languishing in detention facilities while their legal teams fight to get them released.  Tom has it exactly backwards – they have the legal right to remain in our country unless a judge determines otherwise, and also the right to go about their lives and live freely until their cases have been adjudicated.

FALSE CLAIM:  Detainees are “free to leave for home anytime they choose” and the purpose of detention centers is to provide “temporary shelter while transportation is arranged” because “the law requires it.”

TRUTH: Immigration law does not require that all illegal immigrants be detained. But more importantly, for many, “home” is right here, in America – some, such as the so called “Dreamers” (also known as DACA recipients), were brought here as young children and the U.S. is the only “home” they have ever known.  Others have been here for years, establishing businesses, owning homes, paying taxes, and contributing in myriad ways to the American economy.

It is cruel and heartless to uproot people from their real homes and communities, to “send them back” to places where they have no connection other than a birth certificate, or where they may face real danger or political persecution.

FALSE CLAIM: Democrats shield criminals through sanctuary laws.

TRUTH: Studies show sanctuary policies do not increase crime rates. In many cases, they help communities by encouraging cooperation with law enforcement without fear of deportation. Reputable data sources, including The Marshall Project, conclude that immigrants—including undocumented persons —do not contribut to rising crime rates. Fact is, immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born residents.

FALSE CLAIM: Immigrants are a drain on the system and cost taxpayers’ money

TRUTH: Undocumented immigrants aren’t getting a free ride — they’re paying billions in taxes every year into programs they can’t use.  $11.6 billion a year goes into Social Security from undocumented workers. They’ll never see a dime of it. Another $1.5 billion goes into Medicare, also without access to benefits. That means immigrants are helping fund retirements, healthcare, and schools for Americans — while they themselves are locked out of those very programs.

In California alone, undocumented workers do the work Americans won’t do and they pay about $3.2 billion in state and local taxes, which support schools, roads, and services in our communities.

Immigrants contribute an estimated $1 trillion in economic output, about a quarter of the state’s GDP.  Two thirds of agricultural worker are immigrants and 40% of workers in the skilled trades are immigrants.  McClintock’s support for mass deportation risks shutting down vast sectors of the California economy and would have devastating impacts for businesses and families in his mostly rural, heavily agriculture dependent district.

The irony? By framing immigrants as a drain, politicians like McClintock are ignoring the fact that they are actually propping up the very safety nets rural families rely on.  So, the real “waste” isn’t immigrants using benefits — it’s leaders like McClintock who use scare tactics instead of fixing the systems that would benefit everyone in District 5.

FALSE CLAIM: Over one million illegal immigrants have voluntarily returned to their home countries with U.S. money and travel support.

TRUTH: We have found no credible reporting or official government data to support this extraordinary claim. It appears to be either grossly exaggerated or entirely fabricated. While it is true that the number of “foreign-born” residents in the U.S. may have declined in recent months, estimates vary widely, and there is no clear evidence that this is the result of voluntary “self-deportation” with U.S. support. Some may have left for other reasons, been deported, or simply aged out of workforce counts. Fact-checking organization PolitiFact explains this confusion here.

What’s most troubling is how claims like this twist vague or incomplete data into political talking points. This type of manipulation distracts from the real issue: the United States has gone decades without a fair, sensible, and beneficial immigration system. Politicians from both parties have repeatedly kicked the can down the road, too weak-kneed to step up and fix it.

Tone Matters: “Sorry, Not Sorry” Isn’t Leadership

Facetious language like “Sorry, Not Sorry for Immigration Enforcement” may be intended to show toughness—but this kind of tone lacks professionalism, empathy, and nuance. It’s a slap in the face to complex community experiences with immigration law—for immigrant families, law enforcement officials, and rural towns in California that rely on humane, fair policies.

We expect our representatives to lead with facts and empathy—not inflammatory slogans designed to stir fear.

Reality Check: What Do We Expect from Our Elected Officials?

• Truthfulness & Accuracy. Policy arguments should align with reliable data—not sensational—and deceptive claims should be challenged.
• Respect & Decorum. Personalizing policy debates, or celebrating hardship with a “tough-on-you” attitude, erodes civil discourse—and trust in office.
• Responsibility to Constituents. This district includes diverse communities—immigrants, small businesses, law enforcement, families. Leadership must reflect empathy and solutions, not cruelty and division.

Bottom Line

McClintock’s commentary is rooted in exaggeration, fear-mongering, and misleading claims—not in the reliable data or meaningful solutions people in District 5 deserve. It’s not enough to talk tough; leadership means being factual, respectful of all community members, and seeking real resolutions to complex issues.

We are NOT SORRY to call Tom out on his continued exaggerations and lies.  Let’s make him SORRY for thinking that his constituents are stupid and not worthy of the truth.  Vote him out in 2026.