Udall, Luján chide Trump for U.S. border comments
‘Anti-immigrant rhetoric’ criticized
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and Rep. Ben Ray Luján are critical of President Donald Trump’s comments about ordering parts of the border with Mexico closed and authorizing troops to use force against migrants, if necessary.
“The president continues to demonize immigrants and militarize our border, but New Mexicans see right through these political — and likely unconstitutional — moves by the Trump administration,” Udall told the Journal in an email.
“Mexico is our state’s most important trading partner, and families and businesses across our state have close personal and economic ties to our Mexican neighbors,” he said. “New Mexicans will continue to reject President Trump’s attempt to politicize the border in order to score cheap points.”
Luján said the president needed to stop what he calls damaging, anti-immigrant rhetoric.
“Democrats stand ready to work in Congress on bipartisan immigration reform, and will continue to reject these attempts by President Trump to stoke fear,” Luján said in an emailed statement.
Trump said Thursday he signed an order to close the U.S. border with Mexico and authorized troops to use lethal force against migrants to protect U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.
“If they have to,” Trump said at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., claiming without evidence that at least 500 criminals are among migrants trying to enter the U.S.
“So I’m not going to let the military be taken advantage of. I have no choice. Do I want that to happen? Absolutely not. But you’re dealing with rough people.”
The White House hasn’t released the order and Trump wasn’t clear about what the directive entails.