TUCSON – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) released the following statement after the Associated Press reported about a Trump Administration plan to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up undocumented immigrants.

“Donald Trump does not have the authority to dispatch National Guard troops as his personal hit squad targeting immigrants,” Rep. Grijalva said. “But, governors do have that authority within their states, and that is the true danger in this otherwise absurd plan. During previous Administrations, Arizona’s governor allowed National Guard Troops to help with border security. If this memo is implemented, Governor Ducey and other governors from our region would be free to double down on this bad idea, setting a new precedent where the National Guard is no longer reserved to serve and protect the American people during emergencies, but will now be deployed for political purposes whenever a president sees fit. This plan was so hair-brained that even the Trump Administration is backpedaling now.”

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