New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has emerged as another prominent voice opposing President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed “most extensive deportation campaign in U.S. history”.
The Democratic leader has explicitly declined to authorize National Guard involvement in the program, expressing concerns about its potential negative impact on her state.
In an interview with Newsweek, Lujan Grisham emphasized that utilizing the National Guard for large-scale deportations would divert essential resources from critical situations like natural disasters. “We’ll employ all available legal measures to resist mass deportations and unite with other states, as collective action amplifies our effectiveness,” she stated.
Although the governor opposes widespread deportations, she expressed support for working with federal agencies on immigration-related criminal matters. “We welcome resources dedicated to investigating, apprehending and removing convicted offenders,” she noted.
Her position differs markedly from 26 Republican governors who have committed to backing Trump’s deportation plans through state police forces and National Guard units. Speaking for the Republican Governors Association, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized the necessity of deporting “undocumented immigrants who endanger our neighborhoods and national security.”
In California, officials are implementing measures to restrict collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. State Attorney General Rob Bonta has strengthened policies under SB-54, a 2017 statute limiting data sharing between state entities and federal immigration officials. Mr. Bonta has described Mr. Trump’s immigration agenda as “harsh” and his language as “anti-immigrant.”
Simultaneously, New York’s Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, is reportedly examining the city’s sanctuary designation following discussions with Trump’s immigration advisor, Tom Homan. Adams indicated a policy shift, stating New York would cease being a “refuge” for lawbreakers.
As resistance to Trump’s immigration strategies intensifies, the controversy reveals growing divisions among U.S. officials regarding immigration enforcement approaches.
This article references a Latin Times report.
