Washington state lawmakers are considering a measure that would restrict other states’ National Guard units from entering Washington without permission, unless President Trump mobilizes them.
Why it matters: The proposal is intended to stop states from preemptively sending National Guard troops to help carry out Trump’s mass deportation plans, the bill’s lead sponsor, state Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma), told Axios last week.
The fine print: House Bill 1321 wouldn’t apply if National Guard members are deployed on Trump’s direct orders as part of a call to federal service, Mena said.
- “If he decides to federalize the National Guard, there’s really not much we can do about that,” Mena said.
- She said the bill is partly in response to recent statements made by Republican governors, 26 of whom said they’d support Trump’s deportation plans using “every tool” at their disposal, including the National Guard.
The big picture: Trump has said he wants to deport all immigrants who are living in the U.S. without legal authorization… Click here to continue reading this story in Axios.com