You are right in so far as being compelled to obey the law when force is used, however...
What is lost is the MORAL obligation to follow the law. Consider the black markets that evolved in the Soviet Union. Certainly the punishment for getting caught, especially if you were a lowly peasant or non-important entity was horribly cruel: death, gulag (slow death) even punishment of your entire family, yet many tens of thousands wound up involved in the black market as both sellers AND buyers (with either role getting punished).
Right now, we have exactly such a situation with illegal aliens, whether creeping in from Mexico or not taking that return flight to home they said they would. We have cities disobeying the law by declaring themselves Sanctuaries (from the law). Tens of thousands, maybe millions smoke (illegal) pot, take drugs, drive drunk, heck, even disobey the speed limits and other traffic laws.
Every blatantly illegal act by a powerful government official, protected social class or an elite only contributes to and justifies lawlessness by everyone else.
Was there ever a time when the majority of our elected officials felt a moral obligation to do their duty and follow the law? Maybe once upon a time, but I can tell you that I do not think there are many left in this day and age!
Agree with you. And it has gone on regardless of who is in the WH. Sanctuary cities have been a reality since the early 1990s. Bush 43 was almost as bad on immigration as Obama who has taken it to a whole new level.