Dem Gov Katie Hobbs says Arizona 'will not be participating' in 'misguided' mass deportations

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) said Monday her state “will not be participating” in President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to deport millions of illegal immigrants from the United States. Hobbs referred to this policy as “misguided efforts that harm our communities” and said she has “been incredibly clear about that.”

When asked why she didn’t want illegal immigrants removed from Arizona, Hobbs replied, “Well, I think that those efforts are going to divert needed resources that we need here on these drug interdiction and smuggling and trafficking efforts to keep harm out of our communities. We need those resources here.”

Hobbs claimed the mass deportations would constitute a "diversion of law enforcement from the work that they do everyday to keep our community safe.” She said the policy would result in “people hiding in fear” because she has seen that happen “under previous state policies here, and it harms communities. It tears families apart and we're not going to [do it]; that's not going to happen on my watch,”

Trump said Monday that he will declare a national emergency and use the military to deport illegal immigrants. Several states and large cities have announced that they won’t comply with Trump’s proposed policy, among them, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL), who said he won’t assist the federal government with deportations and Gov. Maura Healey, who said she “absolutely won’t comply” with the policy. New Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said last week that he will not assist in mass deportations.

Trump’s incoming Border Czar Tom Homan has not been discouraged by the reluctance of some states, cities or police forces to lend a hand. He has promised to “flood” US sanctuary cities with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist in deportations. He has also said that the Trump administration is committed to destroying criminal cartels and urged illegal immigrants who are concerned about being arrested, detained and sent home to “self-deport."