Republican governors are ordering state law enforcement officials to prepare to cooperate and assist with federal efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, as President Trump begins his first week in office.
Trump transition officials told members of Congress he would issue executive orders declaring an emergency at the U.S. border with Mexico, reinstate a “Remain in Mexico” policy from his first term, and end “catch and release” practices for immigrants detained at or near the border.
In orders issued last week, several governors required law enforcement offices to stand ready to help, and to undergo new training to better assist federal officials.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) sent a memo Friday to top officials at the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections directing them to “fully cooperate and assist” with deportation orders.
The order requires state officials to contact the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department if any ongoing investigations result in the arrest of someone suspected of being in the country illegally.
In Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) issued an executive order on his first day in office directing Highway Patrol troopers to undergo training to aid federal authorities. Kehoe also signed an order directing corrections officials to track the immigration status of those arrested in Missouri.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has called lawmakers back into special session to pass new laws assisting the Trump administration’s efforts. DeSantis said last week he would ask lawmakers to establish a state crime of entering the United States illegally, and to mandate what his office called “maximum participation” in deportation efforts.
DeSantis has also called for legislation that creates a presumption under law that undocumented immigrants are flight risks, denying bail to any immigrants who are detained.
And in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee (R) said he would deploy National Guard troops to deport undocumented immigrants if the Trump administration asks him to do so.
“What I believe is that President Trump was elected saying what he wanted to do and the people elected him in a very strong fashion,” Lee told reporters last week. “And I am supportive of his strategies going forward, and if that includes utilizing the national guard at the president’s request, then I’ll work together with governors across the country to do that.”
Republican governors said in a joint statement last month that they stood with Trump on deporting undocumented immigrants.
“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,” Republicans wrote in a letter signed by all but one incumbent governor.
States run by Democratic governors have signaled they will not be as cooperative.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) said her state would continue adhering to a law that blocks law enforcement officials from cooperating with federal authorities on immigration matters. The so-called “sanctuary” law won approval in the 1980s.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D) pledged to stand up for immigrant families who call his state home.
“It is the policy of the state of Connecticut to respect, honor and protect immigrants and immigrant families,” Tong said in a statement Monday. “If the President and the federal government violate Connecticut’s sovereignty, laws and policy, Connecticut will stand its ground and fight back.”
The divergence of red states and blue states is reminiscent of the early days of Trump’s first term, when he attempted to restrict immigration from several majority-Muslim nations. But the response, so far, has been more muted than eight years ago. Then, Democratic governors and activists showed up at airports to protest what they dubbed a Muslim ban.