Ammon Bundy's Shift on Immigration Sparks Frustration Among Right-Wing Allies
Ammon Bundy, a figure once celebrated for his right-wing credentials and armed standoffs against the federal government, has broken with many of his MAGA allies over ICE enforcement operations. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, Bundy expressed disillusionment with the nationalist right's stance on immigration, calling it "sickening" and criticizing what he sees as the persecution of immigrants.
Bundy, a rancher and militia member who rose to prominence after participating in two armed standoffs against the federal government, has long been seen as an icon within the right-wing movement. However, his recent comments suggest that he may no longer fit neatly into the Republican Party or the MAGA movement's ideology.
In a 2023 essay published last year, Bundy took a decidedly different stance on immigration, arguing that protecting all people who come to the United States is a "national right of mankind" and a moral obligation. He wrote that labeling immigrants as criminals for lacking official permission is "to forget the moral law of God, the historical truth of our own founding, and the Constitutional ideals that continue to define justice."
Bundy's views on immigration are at odds with those of many in his own community, who have rallied behind ICE enforcement operations. When presented with this support, Bundy was perplexed and even frightened by it. "I can't understand how they think," he said in The Atlantic interview. "It doesn't make sense to me... It's scary, actually."
The shift in Bundy's views on immigration may be a sign of growing unease among some within the right-wing movement about the morality and efficacy of their stance on immigration policy. While it remains to be seen how this will play out, one thing is clear: Bundy's comments have left him as an outlier in his own community, and may ultimately impact the way he is perceived by those who once celebrated him as a hero.
Ammon Bundy, a figure once celebrated for his right-wing credentials and armed standoffs against the federal government, has broken with many of his MAGA allies over ICE enforcement operations. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, Bundy expressed disillusionment with the nationalist right's stance on immigration, calling it "sickening" and criticizing what he sees as the persecution of immigrants.
Bundy, a rancher and militia member who rose to prominence after participating in two armed standoffs against the federal government, has long been seen as an icon within the right-wing movement. However, his recent comments suggest that he may no longer fit neatly into the Republican Party or the MAGA movement's ideology.
In a 2023 essay published last year, Bundy took a decidedly different stance on immigration, arguing that protecting all people who come to the United States is a "national right of mankind" and a moral obligation. He wrote that labeling immigrants as criminals for lacking official permission is "to forget the moral law of God, the historical truth of our own founding, and the Constitutional ideals that continue to define justice."
Bundy's views on immigration are at odds with those of many in his own community, who have rallied behind ICE enforcement operations. When presented with this support, Bundy was perplexed and even frightened by it. "I can't understand how they think," he said in The Atlantic interview. "It doesn't make sense to me... It's scary, actually."
The shift in Bundy's views on immigration may be a sign of growing unease among some within the right-wing movement about the morality and efficacy of their stance on immigration policy. While it remains to be seen how this will play out, one thing is clear: Bundy's comments have left him as an outlier in his own community, and may ultimately impact the way he is perceived by those who once celebrated him as a hero.