NM Governor Snubs Trump, Pulls National Guard from Border, Runs Through a Wall in Viral Video
New Mexico's Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has ordered most of the 118 National Guard troops at the state's Southern border to withdraw, criticizing President Trump and accusing him of creating a "charade of border fear-mongering."
"I reject the federal contention that there exists an overwhelming national security crisis at the Southern border," she said, claiming her border has "some of the safest communities in the country."
Lujan Grisham also decided to create a video to mock Trump for wanting a border wall. In the video, she announces her policy goals for breaking down metaphorical walls. She ends it by shouting, "And HERE's what I think of Trump's wall" as she runs directly through a classroom wall that's built of drywall.
All of this talk about walls tonight... #SOTU pic.twitter.com/QFLAYHor0t
— MichelleLujanGrisham (@Michelle4NM) February 6, 2019
Her order to remove National Guard troops comes after President Trump encouraged bipartisan participation to fight against illegal immigration in his State of the Union speech this week. Lujan Grisham rejects President Trump's notion of a national emergency taking place at the border. Trump has said he may need to declare an official "national emergency" to gain funding for his intended $5.7 billion wall.
President Trump recently ordered an additional 3,750 troops to the border. NPR reports at least five states, including two Republican-led states, have rejected the President's Trump order for more troops at the wall. Maryland's Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has indicated the state will not support the Trump's administration policy of separating families at the border.
Though Gov. Lujan Grisham disagrees with President Trump, she plans to leave a dozen guardsmen to assist with humanitarian needs taking place in nearby counties.
According to the governor's office, the counties are asking for support after seeing "large groups of families, women and children crossing over the border in the remote Antelope Wells area in recent months." The state will look to identify if it needs to send more troops to help the counties.
The Antelope Wells port of entry garnered national attention after 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin, a migrant from Guatemala, died of dehydration and shock after his initial screening in December.
The troops were originally sent last April by former Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. Now, six state police officers will join the twelve remaining National Guard troops to support the humanitarian crisis.
