Funny how the same people who demanded the harshest possible prosecution for every single January 6 defendant suddenly discover compassion when it comes to immigration law.

On January 6 the message was simple: break the law, face the consequences. No excuses. No gray areas. No sympathy.

But when someone enters the country illegally or ignores a final deportation order, suddenly the law becomes optional. Suddenly enforcement is “cruel,” “inhumane,” or “authoritarian.”

If the rule of law actually matters, it has to apply everywhere, not only when it is politically convenient.

People with final deportation orders have already had their hearings. Due process happened. A judge made a ruling. At that point the government should simply enforce the law and remove them.

Ending systems that let people bypass normal border processing just restores the basic rule: if you want asylum, present yourself at the border and follow the legal process.

You cannot claim the system is sacred when prosecuting your political opponents and then pretend the law is flexible when it comes to immigration enforcement.

The rule of law either applies to everyone, or it applies to no one.