Donald Trump did not seem to have the same reaction to tearing little kids away from their asylum-seeking parents as Republicans, the Catholic Church, and all of the first ladies. Instead, he doubled down and came out swinging. The man in the Oval Office apparently did not have a problem with little ones sobbing and crying for their mothers and fathers, but other Americans were infuriated and hit back.
Governors across the nation, both Republican and Democratic, have let their voters know that this was not acceptable under America’s set of values. They found Trump’s actions morally indefensible and slugged the president right where it hurt the most.
Governor Ralph Northam (D) just sent out a statement recalling Virginia National Guard soldiers and a state-owned helicopter from the nation’s southwest border. It also said that he will not let them return until Trump ends his soulless zero-tolerance policy:
‘Virginia benefits from the important work of securing our border and we have a responsibility to contribute to that mission. However, we also have a responsibility to stand up to policies or actions that run afoul of the values that define us as Americans. Today I spoke with the Adjutant General of the Virginia National Guard and ordered him to withdraw four soldiers and one helicopter from Arizona until the federal government ends its enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy that separates children from their parents.’
Governor Northam continued, saying that Trump misled him:
‘When Virginia deployed these resources to the border, we expected that they would play a role in preventing criminals, drug runners and other threats to our security from crossing into the United States—not supporting a policy of arresting families and separating children from their parents.’
Then, the governor called the commander-in-chief’s policy “inhumane”:
‘Let me be clear—we are ready to return and contribute to the real work of keeping our nation safe. But as long as the Trump administration continues to enforce this inhumane policy, Virginia will not devote any resource to border enforcement actions that could actively or tacitly support it. I urge President Trump and leaders in Washington to turn away from this zero-tolerance policy and come to the table on the real immigration reform this nation needs.’
Featured Image via Getty Images/Mario Tama.
