HOUSE MEMORIAL 19

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Eliseo Lee Alcon

A MEMORIAL

URGING GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM TO WITHDRAW NEW MEXICO NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO BORDER.

     WHEREAS, on April 4, 2018, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation for the deployment of more than two thousand national guard troops along the United States border with Mexico in a bid to cut down on illegal immigration; and

     WHEREAS, the deployment was in response to a caravan of thousands of migrants approaching the border from Central America; and

     WHEREAS, the president made fear about immigrants a major theme during his 2016 election campaign, stating that the United States was being infiltrated by illegal immigrants "pouring across the border"; and

     WHEREAS, in April 2018, at the request of the president, then-governor Susana Martinez deployed eighty soldiers from the New Mexico national guard to the border and additional deployments were later made; and

     WHEREAS, in June 2018, Maryland's governor pulled his state's national guard troops from border deployment over criticism of the federal government's practice of separating undocumented parents from their children; and

     WHEREAS, other states with national guard troops stationed at the border are considering withdrawal of troops as well; and

     WHEREAS, on January 11, 2019, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham visited the border at Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to form her own impressions and gather information about New Mexico national guard troops stationed on the border; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Lujan Grisham is currently considering whether to withdraw New Mexico national guard troops from the border; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Lujan Grisham has suggested that New Mexico national guard resources could be better spent elsewhere; and

     WHEREAS, as of January 25, 2019, ninety-three New Mexico national guard troops are still deployed on the United States border with Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham be urged to withdraw New Mexico national guard troops from the United States border with Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.

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