Baker Reverses Course, Won't Send Help To 'Inhumane' Border

BEACON HILL, MA — Gov. Charlie Baker Monday abruptly canceled his order to deploy the state National Guard helicopter and crew to the southern border to help curb illegal border crossings and drug trafficking. Why? A spokeswoman for Baker said the federal government’s current actions were "resulting in the inhumane treatment of children."

The crew was expected to deploy by the end of the month to work all summer with the Arizona National Guard and the New Mexico National Guard, in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The plan was the troops were going to provide air reconnaissance and track illegal activity along the border with Mexico. Now the MA National Guard has no assets or personnel participating in the Southwest border mission.

“Governor Baker directed the National Guard not to send any assets or personnel to the Southwest border today because the federal government’s current actions are resulting in the inhumane treatment of children,” said Baker communications director Lizzy Guyton in a statement sent to Patch.

Baker, a Republican, consistently polls as the most popular governor in the country, even in Massachusetts.

When asked about the Trump Administration’s practice of separation of children and families by Radio hosts in May, Baker said he had "a huge problem with that."

In April, Trump called on National Guard troops to assist in securing the border.

Democrat Jay Gonzalez, who is challenging Baker for the governor’s seat this year, also previously criticized the deployment.

"As governor, I would be a very different type of leader on this. I would be sending signals to Donald Trump that we are not supportive of his immigration approach and that we would do everything possible to stand up for the values and interests of the people of Massachusetts, and of our country," he told reporters earlier this month.

This comes a day after protesters took signs in larger numbers than usual outside the Boston ICE detention center.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesman told reporters Friday that almost 2,000 children have been separated from their parents and guardians between April 19 and May 31 of this year.

Read the full WGBH report here: Baker Cancels National Guard

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File photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch