Governors: Deny Trump’s Police State Tactics for Deportations

On April 28th, Trump issued an executive order, titled “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Civilians”, that aims to ramp up deportations by enlisting state and local law enforcement. Under the order, police are to be shielded from criminal and civil liability for any crimes and unlawful actions they take, including harassment, assault, unlawful detention, and murder. The order also demands an increased “provision of excess military and national security assets” to local law enforcement.

This executive order (EO) adds fuel and capacity to the onslaught of unlawful deportations and detainment of citizens, visa holders, and both documented and undocumented immigrants, often in direct violation of court orders, and regularly by denying people their rightful due process. Trump has dismissed the necessity of providing this constitutional right, saying it would take too long. The EO also represents a dramatic and chilling overreach by the federal government as it seeks to control state and local police forces.

Trump is impinging on state and local authority, enabling police at every level to act with impunity, and raising the frightening prospect of deploying the military against Americans. It is crucial to fight back against these police state tactics. Call your governor and demand they take a stand against the administration’s authoritarian control of local law enforcement for their unlawful mass deportation operation.