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Md., Va. governors will not deploy National Guard amid border crisis

In a tweet Tuesday, Governor Hogan said "Until this policy of separating children from their families has been rescinded, Maryland will not deploy any National Guard resources to the border."
Credit: John Moore/Getty Images
Central American asylum seekers wait as U.S. Border Patrol agents take them into custody on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam are withdrawing resources at the border following President Donald Trump’s “Zero Tolerance Policy.”

In a tweet Tuesday, Governor Hogan said “Until this policy of separating children from their families has been rescinded, Maryland will not deploy any National Guard resources to the border.”

RELATED: Detention crisis: Trump defends 'zero-tolerance' immigration

Hogan added that Washington needs to fix the broken system and that they have failed to deliver needed immigration reform.

“Immigration enforcement efforts should focus on criminals, not separating innocent children from their families,” Hogan tweeted.

RELATED: Board will end contract to house migrant children in Alexandria

Tuesday, Hogan ordered our four crewmembers and a helicopter to return from where they were stationed in New Mexico.

Governor Northam also ordered the recall of four Virginia National Guard Soldiers and one helicopter.

He released the following statement Tuesday:

“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.

“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.

“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.”

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