(The Center Square)–A program launched in partnership with the Obama administration more than a decade ago that certifies localities to “improve immigrant inclusion” overlaps with crimes being committed by illegal foreign nationals in those communities, according to crime reports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and other data evaluated by The Center Square.
“Certified Welcoming is a formal designation for cities and counties that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion,” given by the nonpartisan nonprofit organization, “Certified Welcoming.” It says it partners with 300 nonprofits and local governments working “to build more inclusive and welcoming communities in the United States.”
It launched its “Welcoming America” initiative in 2014 to advance a strategic plan to “better integrate immigrants and refugees into American communities.”
The organization clarifies that the certification is not the same as having sanctuary city status. Instead, it indicates that communities have “committed to adhering to inclusive policies and practices [in its] ‘Welcoming Standard,’” to build trust and relationships with law enforcement and educate “immigrants about their rights and responsibilities under the law.”
So far, 36 cities and counties are Certified Welcoming: Boise, Idaho; Champaign and Oak Park, IL; Indianapolis and Allen County, IN; Emporia, KS; Louisville, KY; New Orleans, LA; Portland, ME; Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties, MD; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Crete and Lincoln, NE; Nashua, NH; Charlotte, NC; Dayton, Cuyahoga Falls and Toledo and Cuyahoga and Lucas counties, OH; Tulsa, OK; Erie, Lancaster, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Austin and Dallas, TX; Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, UT; Roanoke, VA; and Seattle, WA.
Many have implemented sanctuary city policies identified by the Department of Justice, which is taking legal action against them. This is after ICE during the Biden administration arrested nearly 528,000 violent offenders, including in sanctuary jurisdictions.
Certified Welcoming is tied to multiple open border organizations that promote “diversity, equity and inclusion” and “climate migration,” funded by billionaire George Soros and others. Their partner initiative, Gateways for Growth, provides a “competitive opportunity for localities to receive research support and technical assistance” from the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America to advance “immigrant inclusion.”
The council claims to “fight against” state “anti-immigrant policies,” provide free legal services for asylum seekers, fund grants for cities and localities to “improve immigrant inclusion,” build local “resilience for resettlement infrastructure,” promote foreign workers obtaining a range of visas among multiple other programs and initiatives.
Since 2016, Gateways for Growth says it provided support to nearly 100 localities in 36 states, with Michigan, California, Ohio, Texas and Virginia receiving the most.
In Certified Welcoming Boise, ICE arrested a Honduran in the country illegally who killed an eight-year-old girl, The Center Square reported. In Gateways supported Des Moines, ICE arrested a Guyanese national and Des Moines Public School superintendent who’d been living and working in the country illegally for years. The district is being investigated for alleged discriminatory hiring practices. The Guyanan worked for public schools in the sanctuary city of and Certified Welcoming Baltimore and Gateways supported Baltimore County, The Center Square reported.
Regional Homeland Security task forces and federal partners are targeting transnational crime in Certified Welcoming and Gateway localities. In Los Angeles, violent assassin cartel affiliated gang and foreign terrorist organization (FTO) members were indicted as ICE officers continue to be attacked, The Center Square reported.
In Chicago, ICE is arresting cartel-connected gang members and FTOs, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13 members, while being targeted in drive by shootings. Chicago leads the U.S. with the most violent vehicular attacks against ICE agents; attacks have increased by 1,300% nationwide; death threats have increased by 8,000%, The Center Square reported. In Cook County, TdA crime has exploded.
Texas has experienced the most attacks against ICE facilities, including targeted shootings, bomb threats and mailed powdery substances in Welcoming City and Gateways supported Dallas.
In Certified Welcoming and Gateways supported Charlotte, ICE is targeting 1,400 criminal foreign nationals it says were released because of sanctuary policies; in Gateways supported Twin Cities and Lincoln, federal agents are uncovering massive immigration fraud.
ICE is also targeting human rights abusers, including ICE Detroit officers deporting a convicted Burkinabe coup leader illegally living in Cincinnati and arresting TdA members in Certified Welcoming and Gateways supported Detroit and sanctuary city of Denver.
Some sanctuary jurisdictions are reversing course. Earlier this year, Louisville’s mayor revoked the city’s sanctuary policies in the Certified Welcoming city after receiving legal threats from the DOJ. On Oct. 31, Baltimore County signed an agreement to cooperate with ICE and was removed from the DOJ’s sanctuary jurisdiction list.
Others aren’t. In September, the DOJ sued Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul; earlier this year, it sued Boston, Los Angeles and New York. ICE continues to arrest thousands of criminal foreign nationals released onto the streets in these jurisdictions, including violent sex offenders and traffickers. This year, the first racketeering and sex trafficking charges were brought against TdA members in New York.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.