Torres on Reports Administration is Considering Deploying National Guard to Roundup Immigrants
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to reports of a Department of Homeland Security memo exploring the possibility of using National Guard troops to enforce immigration laws:
"I really hope that the administration is not considering sending the National Guard into our communities. Using military forces to round up innocent civilians is a page straight out of the dictator's playbook. It is contrary to American values and our long-held principle of keeping the military out of law enforcement. The National Guard is responsible for protecting Americans from threats to our safety at home and abroad. They are not responsible for enforcing immigration laws. Deploying National Guard troops into neighborhoods to rip apart families would only serve to sow fear and chaos in communities across the country. We have seen abroad - especially in Latin America - that when the military is involved in law enforcement it undermines rule of law and ultimately erodes the people's trust of the military. We don't want that here."
Though the White House has stated the proposal was not being seriously considered, Torres remains concerned the idea was ever explored. Rep. Torres serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and is co-chair of the New Americans Caucus. She immigrated to the United States from Guatemala at the age of five.