President Donald Trump’s effort to secure America’s borders and crack down on illegal immigration has once again sent Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham into a tailspin. As Fox News revealed Friday, the Pentagon is preparing to mobilize up to 1,700 National Guard troops from 19 states — including New Mexico — to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in processing and detaining illegal migrants.
The deployments are expected to run from mid-August through mid-November, with the largest share of forces headed to Texas. Documents show Guard members will be tasked with critical support duties such as case management, transportation, logistical support, and clerical work. That includes booking detainees by collecting fingerprints, DNA samples, and photographs. The move provides ICE with badly needed manpower while ensuring the Guard’s role remains within the law.
But while Republican governors like Utah’s Spencer Cox expressed openness to supporting the mission, Lujan Grisham quickly announced she would oppose any deployment of Guard troops for immigration enforcement inside New Mexico.
“Gov. Lujan Grisham would oppose the deployment of National Guard troops to New Mexico to conduct immigration raids, and she certainly wouldn’t order ours up for that purpose,” her spokesperson Michael Coleman wrote. He claimed such enforcement would “terrorize communities, break up families and harm local economies.”
The governor’s familiar rhetoric is nothing new. Lujan Grisham has long resisted immigration enforcement efforts while insisting Congress should pass sweeping legislation to “fix” the system, despite her spending years in Congress without even an attempt at fixing the issue. Previously in her administration, she flatly denied the existence of a border crisis and removed National Guard troops from helping secure the border, which her predecessor, Republican former Gov. Susana Martinez, had previously deployed.
Lujan Grisham’s office tried to soften the blow by noting she has requested additional federal personnel and technology to help combat drug trafficking. But her refusal to support the use of the Guard — even for clerical and logistical duties — once again puts her at odds with Trump’s efforts to restore law and order.
New Mexico’s border with Mexico stretches roughly 180 miles, much of it sparsely populated and on federal land. About 50 miles of the state’s border had no barrier at the close of the Joe Biden regime. The most active areas, around Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, are already under heightened federal patrols. Bringing in Guard troops to assist ICE would only strengthen security and relieve overburdened officers. Yet the governor would rather score political points with her party’s base than cooperate with Washington to keep New Mexicans safe.
By contrast, Cox, Utah’s Republican governor, acknowledged the president’s authority and signaled his willingness to contribute. “As a dual-authority state, like others, the federal government does have the opportunity to call up the National Guard. The president has that authority,” Cox said. “What we’ve said from the very beginning is this: We are willing to work to support the efforts to remove people who are here illegally.”
The difference is stark. While Republican governors see the value of supporting federal enforcement, New Mexico’s governor predictably digs in her heels, attacking Trump’s strategy instead of helping to secure her own state.
Once again, Lujan Grisham is more concerned with protecting her political talking points than safeguarding her constituents. Meanwhile, Trump is doing what he promised — mobilizing every resource necessary to enforce America’s immigration laws and safeguard New Mexico’s communities.
Troops wont be conducting immigration raids. MLG knows that but cant help herself from lying. Arent you sick of democrat liars yet NM ? I guess not.
She needs to get over it .she not doing her job to protect NM people so now President Trump is
Makes me wonder if there is money to be had by MLG by allowing illegals to continue to come. We know bring drugs is their main goal. And human trafficking. Why else would a governor want open borders? It isnt just about votes.
She and her party need the illegals for votes in her gerrymandered 2nd Congressional District
Same ol’ Same ol’ – the people (Democrats) of NM are so out of touch with the rest of the US … they – and their ancestors – have been deceived by the demonic elite. We must enter into spiritual warfare in order to address political deception.
Can’t blame her – she has to answer to her beloved Soros/ Newscum/ cartels – how else is she going to maintain her million dollar home around the Navajo nation – such an evil witch – yes don’t forget the warlock witch she followers – her eyes are evil – we need the BG in Valencia County bad –
Ain’t nothing you can do, Grisham. federal authority TRUMPS state authority.
You can see the evil in her eyes . She is a disgrace to New Mexico .
Yes, she needs illegals here to be counted in the census to prop up her Congressional districts for more House seats. ( Currently, NM has 46% registered Republicans, but 0% representation in DC! Go figure.)
It’s the Democrat way. Deceive, deceive, deceive. In the meantime, these same illegals are signed up for Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, etc. bleeding these programs dry which were set up for American citizens. MLG then cries for more federal dollars, as we are declared a poverty state. It’s all a big sham and I think Trump is on to the blue state’s tactics. Hopefully, we’ll see some changes soon…
Apparently, she did not get the memo.
Documents show Guard members will be tasked with critical support duties such as case management, transportation, logistical support, and clerical work. That includes booking detainees by collecting fingerprints, DNA samples, and photographs.
I guess she already forgot SHE used the National Guard to help the police because crime is so bad in New Mexico. If she and her cronies hadn’t defunded the Police she might’ve not have needed the National Guard.
Thank the good Lord she can’t run again! I only hope enough of her Democrats are waking up to the problems we are facing and looking for a change.
Most of you commenting are making judgements you are not equipped to make. That is okay if that is your opinion. Our immigration system is badly flawed. It needs to be fixed. In 1986 Ronald Reagan passed legislation to make illegals Legal, 2.7 million right away and millions more to follow. There was much left to be done. George H W Bush proposed legislation to begin to do that and passed the Immigration Act of 1990. This was introduced by Ted Kennedy. It made substantial improvements but left more to be one.
Now George W Bush proposed more immigration reform measures that were reasonable but Congress failed to pass them. In addition Congress passed legislation that removed penalties for employers hiring illegals and now illegals soared from 5.6 million to 11.0 million.
Congress failed to provide the resource necessary for the Border Patrol to do their jobs effectively. Presidents are complicit in this too.
The National Guard is not the way at all to fix anything in immigration. Congress needs to provide the needed resource to do the job an more legislation is needed to help fix the problems.
“The further a society drifts from truth, the more it hates those who speak it.”
— George Orwell —
Democrats are dictators and their goal is always the acquisition of power at any cost. The real danger will always be the stupidity of herd animals who vote for them. The obvious moral bankruptcy of power-mad fools demanding open borders while defending illegal aliens aka criminal invaders staggers discerning minds.
And Republicans in Congress and the White House have he power to fix the problems but now they simply poke at symptoms. A distraction?
David: “Our immigration system is badly flawed. It needs to be fixed.” I have heard this rhetoric over and over from democrats but no one, including you, have explained exact how and where it is broken. We have a process for legal immigration. We have an open border that allows anyone to just walk in. That border is what is broken. Allowing the illegal to stay and receive taxpayer funding is what is broken. No employer should hire any illegal so they can pay a lower wage. That includes butt wipers. Sorry. I would like to know exactly how our system is broken and fixing the problem by giving amnesty is NOT the answer.
When Biden became president the first act of his presidency was to negate Trumps policies, one is the debacle of open boarders. Now they are burning Old Glory and waving the Mexican flag.
What is so honorable about letting and not vetting illegals into our country? What about the millions who had to pay attorneys big bucks to become a lawful citizen of the US.
What is it with the democrats always throwing a temper tantrum when they don’t get their way..What has happened to the Democratic Party that cared for the rule of law, worked their profession with blood sweat and pride and didn’t rely on government aid, come to think about it there may not have been any aid.
Does anyone send MLG Pinonpost?
Commie Clown…..
LG’s just mad ’cause Trump’s making her look bad.
If you review what George W Bush proposed as fixes to immigration law you will see part of what is necessary to do. Congress passed laws to allow employers to hire illegals so that is a problem. American business needs these illegals to fill jobs and yes they might pay less. So business lobbies Congress so they can hire them. Looks like it paid off for them.
re undocumented immigrants eligible for federal public benefit programs?
Generally no. Undocumented immigrants, including DACA holders, are ineligible to receive most federal public benefits, including means-tested benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, sometimes referred to as food stamps), regular Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and are prohibited from purchasing unsubsidized health coverage on ACA exchanges.
SIMPLE ANSWER no one has been enforcing the law. Our so called highly educated elected officials fail to enforce the law as they much rather spend their time circumenting it.
More lies from the corrupt NM dems. NM’s democrat voters are just too stupid to realize they & the illegals are simply used as pawns by their tyrannical leaders to gain more power and wealth. NM’s bottom of the barrel education ranking continues to be on full display. Pitiful.
Sick to death of Grisham & all the DemocRat’s in this state. They have ruined this state & I have lived here most of my life but at 70 I’m too old to start over somewhere else. The medical system is a joke because of DemocRat’s have ruined it with malpractice insurance & gross receipts tax so we have lost so many physicians. Now Gestapo Grisham is hiring illegals to ge police officers which should be completely illegal & is a disaster waiting for a place to happen. My husband retired from the New Mexico State Police many years ago & was appalled at the officer pandering to the illegal truck driver who went on to kill 3 people in Florida that 2 million people have signed a petition to let him off. What is wrong with this country? Democrats, deport them all!