President-elect Donald Trump ran his campaign on a hardline immigration stance but many Democrat governors and city leaders have declared they plan to fight back against any mass deportations and not help federal agencies.
Trump’s main campaign promise was to implement a mass deportation of illegal immigrations within the United States and may have to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities if they do not comply with federal law enforcement. Governors in Massachusetts, California, and Illinois have publicly stated they with actively push back against Trump’s agenda, opposing the will of the people who overwhelmingly voted Trump into office for his immigration stance.
“I think that the key here is that every tool in the toolbox has gotta be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey told MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell only hours after Trump’s landslide victory. Healey claimed that the state police would “absolutely not” help the Trump administration with mass deportations.
Healey has also publicly acknowledged the immigration crisis in her state facing a financial meltdown because of her self-proclaimed “sanctuary state” cost of care.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom decided to call the state legislature back into session so they can “protect California values” or “Trump-proof” their state.
“The special session will focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families,” a statement from Newsom’s office reads. “On immigrant protection, California has advanced policies that support immigrant families and is investing in their protection.”
On Sunday, President-elect Trump announced former ICE acting Director Tom Homan to be the real border czar, making it very clear that the administration will take a hardline stance on illegal immigration.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker held a press conference to address Trump’s agenda in a statement which read “To anyone who intends to come take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior. You come for my people, you come through me.”
President-elect Trump strongly disagrees with any state declaring themselves a “sanctuary state” and intends to withhold federal public safety grants until states comply with federal immigration authorities requests.