Republican governors from across the nation have signed a statement expressing their support for President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda.
Led by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, the statement aligns with Trump’s promise to implement the largest mass deportation campaign in American history after President Joe Biden’s administration allowed record numbers of migrants to cross illegally into the country for most of his term.
“As Republican governors, we stand united in support of President Donald Trump’s unwavering commitment to make America safe again by addressing the illegal immigration crisis and deporting illegal immigrants who pose a threat to our communities and national security,” the statement from the 26 Republican governors reads.
The statement further supported Trump’s deportation agenda, focusing on illegal immigrants involved in violent crimes.
“Republican governors remain fully committed to supporting the Trump Administration’s efforts to deport dangerous criminals, gang members, and terrorists who are in this country illegally,” the statement added. “We understand the direct threat these criminal illegal immigrants pose to public safety and our national security, and we will do everything in our power to assist in removing them from our communities.”
Recent polls demonstrate that a substantial majority of Americans support President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation agenda. In response, Republican governors have pledged to provide their state law enforcement agencies and National Guard units to aid in the deportation efforts.
“We stand ready to utilize every tool at our disposal—whether through state law enforcement or the National Guard—to support President Trump in this vital mission,” the letter said.
Several Democratic officials, meanwhile, have committed to opposing—and potentially obstructing—Trump’s plans to carry out mass deportations and enforce federal immigration laws.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey stated that state police will “absolutely not” cooperate with federal law enforcement agents in executing the mass deportation initiative.
Her remarks were made shortly before ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents in the state detained three undocumented individuals accused of sexually assaulting children. Notably, one of these individuals was released by a local police department, which reportedly disregarded an immigration detainer request from ICE.
That said, former acting ICE Director Tom Homan, whom Trump has named his “border czar,” has responded by threatening to arrest any state official that purposefully obstructs federal officials and agents from conducting removal operations.
“You’ve got San Diego writing legislation. You’ve got Colorado and other states and other cities saying they’re going to prevent us doing what I’m doing,” he told host Maria Bartiromo earlier this month.
“I want to send a clear message. If you let us in the jail, we can arrest the bad guy in the jail and in the safety and security of the jail. One officer could do that, but when you release a public safety threat back into the community, you put the community at risk. You put my officers at risk. You put the alien at risk,” he continued.
Last month, Homan said he is willing to arrest state Democratic officials who impede his officers.
“Tom, you heard this mayor out there in Colorado, I want to get your reaction to it. And I want you to be clear about who has jurisdiction. The federal government or state and local governments? And if you’re a sanctuary state or city, are you breaking the law?” Fox News host Sean Hannity asked.
Homan responded: “Yeah, you’re absolutely breaking the law. All he has to do is look at Arizona vs. U.S. and you will see he’s breaking the law.”
“But look, me and the Denver mayor we agree on one thing. He’s willing to go to jail. I’m willing to put him in jail. There’s a statute, Title 8, United States Code 1324 – AAA. And what it says is it’s a felony if you knowingly harbor and conceal illegal aliens from immigration authorities. It is also a felony to impede a federal law enforcement officer,” Homan continued.
“So if you don’t want to help, that’s fine. He can get the hell out of the way, but we’re going to go do the job. President Trump has a mandate from the American people. We’ve got to secure this country and save American lives,” he said.