You come here illegally. You kill an American. You pay the ultimate price. No exceptions. No sanctuary cities to hide in. No liberal judges to save you. President Trump is sending a message to every criminal who thinks they can cross our border and harm our people.

Fifth, there is the question of effectiveness and unintended consequences. Even if the death penalty were imposed uniformly against noncitizen offenders, would that reduce violence or improve public safety? Empirical evidence on deterrence is mixed at best. Moreover, harsh, rhetorically charged policies can inflame xenophobic attitudes, increase social mistrust, and complicate cooperative public-safety strategies that rely on trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. Images that appeal to fear can therefore create policy feedback loops that make communities less safe, not safer.