‘Resist’: Bitter lame-duck Gov. Lujan Grisham makes Trump a promise

Following President-elect Donald Trump’s landslide electoral vote and popular vote victory, his plans to implement strong border policies, including stricter immigration enforcement and mass deportations, have elicited panicked reactions among New Mexico Democrats, namely lame-duck Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection in 2026.

Trump’s policies, which prioritize cracking down on illegal immigration and enhancing border security, are viewed by many supporters as a way to restore law and order. 

Gov. Lujan Grisham pledged to resist Trump’s efforts to carry out mass deportations, labeling them as divisive and contrary to New Mexico’s values. 

She said to the Santa Fe New Mexican, “We’re going to resist like all of the Democratic states, and I think some Republican states might,” adding, “Their [National] Guards will not be deployed to do that. Police cannot be deployed to do that … because this is a federal issue, requires federal resources, so we’re not allowed to do that, and we’re not going to start now.”

She claimed, “A little bit like the border wall, I’m skeptical that they can actually execute that, but I take this administration at its word that their intentions are to create these sort of harsh, divisive efforts, that they will try.”

Lujan Grisham was a surrogate for failed Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris, hoping to pick up a cabinet post, all of which has now disintegrated to dust since Trump’s win.

Despite her criticism, proponents of Trump’s policies argue that previous lax enforcement and border security gaps under the current administration have left New Mexicans vulnerable. They highlight the need to enforce immigration laws to protect communities and curb illegal crossings.

Trump’s proposed actions focus on targeting illegal aliens who commit crimes, with a priority on enhancing public safety. Former ICE Director Tom Homan, appointed as the administration’s border czar, a position currently held by failed Democrat nominee for president Kamala Harris, stressed that the approach would not be indiscriminate but targeted at individuals posing a threat. “It’s going to be a targeted enforcement operation,” he said, emphasizing safety over sweeping raids.

Trump’s border policies also include enhancing cooperation with state governments on drug interdiction and other security measures, as highlighted by Lujan Grisham herself. While she and other Democrat leaders criticize these efforts as extreme, supporters maintain that they reflect a commitment to protecting New Mexicans from the dangers posed by drug trafficking and unchecked illegal immigration. They view resistance from Democratic leaders as a politically motivated obstruction that disregards the need for law and order.

As New Mexicans prepare for the changes ahead, Trump’s strong border policies proponents believe they are essential steps toward a safer state and country, arguing that a secure border benefits all citizens by promoting stability and reducing crime, especially in a border state.As noted in our previous reporting, Democrats’ resistance to Trump’s administration could come at the cost of billions in federal aid to the state, which is currently the second-most dependent state following only Alaska.