Americans learned this week of the horrific story of more than 100 people crammed into a semi-truck trailer in Texas in the sweltering summer heat that left 10 dead and 29 hospitalized. It’s a tragic story that highlights the dangerous exploitation of illegal aliens being exacerbated by the existence of sanctuary cities. Human smuggling operators are able to stay in the criminal business because so many American cities have broadcast themselves as safe havens for illegals.

When tragedies like this occur, there are always numerous suggestions for how best to prevent a similar event from happening again. But too often blame is misplaced. For example, the leftist organization ThinkProgress wrote this: “Once Trump’s border wall is built, more tragic deaths like this could happen.” So enforcement of the law is to blame and not the decisions of those individuals who knowingly broke the law? Advocating for greater lawlessness as the solution to prevent a tragedy created by individuals who were bent on breaking the law is the epitome of foolishness.

A better take on the tragedy was expressed by Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who said, “Sanctuary cities entice people to believe they can come to America and Texas and live outside the law. Sanctuary cities also enable human smugglers and cartels. Today, these people paid a terrible price and demonstrate why we need a secure border and legal immigration reform so we can control who enters our country.” Too many on the Left are comfortable advocating for lawlessness for political gain rather than Rule of Law.