Three governors, including one Republican, say they will won’t National Guard units to the U.S.-Mexico border if the Trump administration continues its practice of removing children from their parents who cross the border illegally.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in April authorizing the National Guard to help Customs and Border Protection secure the border. Defense Secretary James Mattis worked with state governors to send up to 4,000 troops to assist with operations at the border, including in administrative and surveillance work that would free up Customs and Border Protection personnel. Previous administrations have also authorized the Department of Defense to support the Department of Homeland Security when it comes to immigration.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said that his state “will not be party to this inhumane treatment of immigrant families,” in a statement on Monday.
“Day after day, I am increasingly disturbed by the reports of disgraceful tactics used by ICE both in our own state and along our nation’s border,” Cuomo said in the statement.
Massachusetts’ Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday that separating families was inhumane and that the state’s National Guard will not send any troops to the border as planned.
“Governor Baker directed the National Guard not to send any assets or personnel to the Southwest border today because the federal government’s current actions are resulting in the inhumane treatment of children,” said Baker communications director Lizzy Guyton in a statement sent to WGBH News.
The administration continues to say that they are simply enforcing the law, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen condemned reports from news organizations and advocacy groups about families separated at the border.
Another Democrat, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, signed an executive order that says no state resources will be used for the purpose of separating children from their families for violating federal immigration law.
