Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said she will challenge Donald Trump’s anticipated mass deportation order targeting millions of illegal immigrants.
Healey, 53, insisted that Massachusetts State Police would “absolutely” not assist in the Trump administration’s planned deportations during an interview with MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell.
“I think it’s important that we all recognize that there will be a lot of pressure on states and state officials,” he added. “And I can assure you that we are going to work very hard to achieve it.”
The lawmaker’s stance sparked backlash when critics pointed out that Healey had previously complained that the immigration crisis was crippling his state’s finances, which are forecast to cost more than $1 billion a year.
In May he told WCVB that the border crisis “is the result of federal inaction.” Healey once supported sanctuary cities that offer immigrants greater protection from arrest. But he ordered border crossers to stop traveling to the Bay State after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began busing thousands of people from border cities.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said she will challenge Donald Trump’s early mass deportation order during an interview with MSNBC.
Trump made fighting immigration a central pillar of his 2024 election campaign and has said he plans to carry out the largest mass deportation in US history of more than 15 million people.
Immigration has become a contentious issue in Massachusetts after being inundated by tens of thousands of migrants during the Biden administration, and the reliably Democratic state hosted several “Close the Border” rallies this year.
Trump held several rallies in the reliably Democratic state focused on his deportation plans.
Appearing on MSNBC, Healey said he intends to use every “tool” at his disposal to fight Trump’s immigration policies.
“I think the key here is that all available tools must be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and to protect our states, and certainly to maintain democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle,” she said. .
People hold signs and flags at a ‘Close the Border’ rally in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 4, 2024.
Healey previously served as Massachusetts attorney general and defied several Trump orders during his first administration.
But the governor admitted there is now a “different situation in the courts” that may make it more difficult for state officials to challenge Trump, but said there are “other ways” to challenge him.
‘It is also necessary to take note of some realities. And in 2016 we had a very different situation in the courts,” he stated.
“And while I’m sure there may be litigation ahead, there are many other ways that people are going to act and will need to act for the good of their states and their residents.”
Healey said these other channels include state legislation, “executive branches” and “regulatory authority.”
Massachusetts has been inundated by tens of thousands of migrants, seen at a shelter in Chelsea, Massachusetts, during the Biden administration.
Healey seen with Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally in November 2022
The comments sparked outrage from Healey’s conservative opponents, with Massachusetts Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Carnevale calling her a “hypocrite” for her previous stance on addressing the immigration crisis.
“Governor Healey has chosen to indulge in apparent political spectacle rather than work to build bridges for the benefit of the people of Massachusetts,” Carnevale told the Boston Herald.
‘The most surprising thing about the Governor’s recent statement is its blatant hypocrisy.
“She has blamed the federal government for the immigration crisis in Massachusetts, but now that we have a newly elected president ready to address the immigration crisis with action, she is backing off.”
Carnevale was referring to Healey’s comments to WCVB in May calling the immigration crisis a “federal issue.”
Healey said at the time: ‘Remember, the number of immigrants we are seeing (in Massachusetts and other states) across the border is the result of federal inaction.
“Weeks ago there was a bipartisan agreement on the table. Republicans in Congress killed him after Donald Trump said there would be no deal on immigration.