Gov. Grisham withdraws National Guard troops from New Mexico border

[Judi Lynn]

3. New Mexico pulls most national guard troops from border in rebuke to Trump

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s move challenges Donald Trump’s description of a security crisis

Associated Press
Tue 5 Feb 2019 22.13 EST

The governor of New Mexico ordered the withdrawal of the majority of the state’s national guard troops from the US border with Mexico on Tuesday, in a move that challenges Donald Trump’s description of a security crisis.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the partial withdrawal shortly before Trump’s State of the Union address. Her Republican predecessor deployed national guard troops to the border in April 2018 at Trump’s suggestion, and 118 remained there before Tuesday’s reversal.

“New Mexico will not take part in the president’s charade of border fearmongering by misusing our diligent National Guard troops,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.

At the same time, the governor said a small contingent – about a dozen guardsmen – would remain in the south-western corner of the state to assist with humanitarian needs in a remote corridor for cross-border immigration. She also mobilized state police to assist local law enforcement.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/05/new-mexico-governor-border-troops-national-guard-trump