The Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham has ordered to withdraw the majority of its state’s National Guard troops stationed along the U.S-Mexico border. Her move clearly rejects the claims of the Trump administration of an overwhelming national security crisis. Lujan Grisham announced the decision in the lead-up to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in which Trump warned of a tremendous onslaught of asylum seekers arriving at the southern border. He once again vowed to see his long-promised border wall built.
Lujan Grisham took office last month after representing New Mexico in the U.S House of Representatives for 6-years. She said in a statement and rejected the “federal contention that there exists an overwhelming national security crisis at the southern border, along which are some of the safest communities in the country”. She added, “New Mexico will not take part in the president’s charade of border fear-mongering by misusing our diligent National Guard troops”.
The New Mexican Governor said that National Guard troops stationed in Hidalgo County and surrounding southwestern New Mexico counties would remain in place to help with the ongoing humanitarian needs of communities. She had seen large groups of families, women, and children crossing the border during recent months. Lujan Grisham also said that she didn’t believe there was a “national security crisis” at the border. New Mexico is withdrawing most of its deployed troops and directed troops from Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Wisconsin to return to their home states immediately.
She said, “She did recognize and appreciate the legitimate concerns of residents and officials in southwestern New Mexico, especially the Hidalgo County. They have asked for our assistance as migrants and asylum-seekers continue to appear at their doorstep. We will deploy our men and women in uniform only where there is a need and where their presence can make a genuine difference in ensuring public safety and an easing of the humanitarian concerns at our southern border”.